NESTLED ON THE SOUTH COAST of the island is Barbados Blue, a watersport facility. But it is not just any facility. The divers that work here whisk you away into the deep blue of the Atlantic Ocean to mingle with the turtles and swim among the schools of fish.
EASY magazine team was invited by marine biologist Andre Millar, who owns and runs the dive shop at Needham’s Point, St Michael, to engage and experience for themselves the beauty and fauna of snorkelling with the turtles and other marine creatures.
The team also had the opportunity to visit the shipwrecks of the Berwyn, a former French battleship used in World War I, and the Bajan Queen, a former local party boat, both of which now contribute to and provide shelter for the sea life in the marine park.
The contingent who ventured out, comprised nine people, including guide Roger White, who took extra care of his charges. The first stop was made to drop off six divers in the Carlisle Bay marine park before heading further out to accomplish the task at hand.
I was excited as the boat, Melissa 2, berthed not far from shore, and everyone got outfitted in their snorkel masks, life vests and swimming fins and was informed of safety precautions and procedures. Some of the snorkellers bombarded White with questions about the various types of turtles, how often they surfaced and what they ate as we waited impatiently for them to appear.
Although the sun was shining in all its glory, the water was frigid. It was literally like stepping into a tub of ice water. I was thankful that I opted for the wet suit as opposed to the traditional bikini worn by the other women on board.
Although locating the turtles, mainly the hawksbill and green, initially was difficult, (we were informed they generally come up in the early morning and late evening), as luck would have it the team eventually struck gold and we were able to touch, feed and swim with two of the three turtles seen that evening.
Tiff Browne from Brooklyn, New York, said it was by far one of the best experiences she had on her visit to the island.
“I envy those who get to do this daily. We don’t have these pleasures at home so doing this has been most enjoyable for me,” she said excitedly.
Dorothy from Montreal, Canada, was just as ecstatic about being a part of the expedition. “I haven’t swam in a long time but if I could do this every day I would happily go into the water just to see the turtles,” she said.
Another snorkeller, Henry Lee, who diligently stayed in the water looking for the turtles while the rest had stayed in the boat, said he was “elated to be out here in the ocean swimming with the turtles”.
Snorkelling with the turtles lasted a mere 45 minutes before the expedition returned to the marine park and we were allowed to swim among the two shipwrecks.
We also fed the colourful schools of fish – sergeant majors, Balaju and Bermuda chubs, to name a few of the species who live among the shipwrecks.
It was incredibly amazing to see how close the fish came once we had food in our hands. And although they did not eat out of our hands, as one of the turtles did, it was indeed a one-of-a kind experience. Marine life under the sea is a most magical sight. Being able to almost touch the ocean’s floor and then look up to see schools of fish swimming all around was quite a phenomenal experience.
Millar describes the tours as surreal, and notes that Barbadians do not realise the tropical paradise they live on.
“I don’t think that we realise how lucky we are in Barbados and how much this island has to offer. When I see my customers, many of them non-nationals, take part in our activities it reminds me of just how fortunate we are to live on this little rock, this paradise. Our snorkelling and watersports activities attempt to convey that special feeling every time,” he said, beaming like a proud father.
Tired, and with some of us having swallowed a gallon or more of the Atlantic Ocean, we returned to the Melissa 2 and made our way back to shore just as the sun’s rays were beginning to blanket the sky in hues of orange. (RA)
