Tobago Cays

We arrived at the Tobago Cays at 4:30. Ed and Justin got in the water and cleaned the hull of the boat while I prepared dinner. After dinner that night we played Balderdash, WOW do we know how to have a good time! We were all looking forward to the next morning exploring the great snorkeling areas of the Cays.
Friday 20th June
We woke to a very gray morning, and peered out to see a gray tropical haze, this didn't look promising for our planned snorkel. We watched with great disappointment as yet more dark clouds rolled in, along with boat loads of tourists from neighboring islands. Bob, Edi and Justin took the dinghy over to one of the little islands to attempt to snorkel, while I stayed on board to do laundry. The guys didn't stay out long, as the weather was deteriorating fast with heavy rain and strong winds, it was churning up the bottom and making visibility very difficult, so they gave up and returned to the boat. We all retreated below decks closed up the boat and put the air con on. After lunch I got out my paints, and despite the wind and the rain hammering the decks above me I spent a very relaxing afternoon painting, while Edi and Justin read, and Bob worked on his computer. The rain continued all day so I decided to make a special dinner to cheer everyone up. I cooked a delicious Parmesan crusted rack of lamb, with roasted vegetables, and chocolate mint pot de creme for desert. It turned out to be a very restful and pleasant day despite the dreadful weather.
The Tobago Cays are a group of tiny uninhabited islands sheltered by a horseshoe reef. In an attempt to protect the delicate reef, the St.Vincent government declared the islands a marine park. The waters here are exceptionally clear and boast a diverse selection of marine life, which attracts thousands of visitors each year. The only way to reach these islands is by boat, and the delicate coral reefs have sustained much damage due to many of the visiting boats anchoring carelessly. A few moorings have been placed here, but not nearly enough. Its asking a lot of one small, economically strapped nation to efficiently protect this beautiful area. In order to protect this magnificent coral reef, we as visitors can take a few simple precautions to aid in its protection.
Don't drop anchors either boat or dinghy near the coral, take a little longer to locate a sandy area for anchoring, it may mean anchoring further away than you would like, but if everyone made this small effort, the reefs will survive for years to come, and be there for many others to enjoy in the future.
This is something we can all do.