We split our shore excursions again - Ryan and I finished our PADI SCUBA certification dives with Paul at Eden Rock, while Theresa and the girls did the standard Turtle Farm, Hell, and Stingray City tour.
Eden Rock is less than a 5 minute walk from the tender pier, and since we were only in port from noon to 6, we made sure we were on the first tender. Eden Rock is just offshore and consists of a cluster of rocks ranging from 20 to 40 feet deep. It turned out to be much more interesting than Cozumel. There were a lot more fish, coral, and most important, interesting terrain.
On the first dive, we saw a large school of yellowtail snappers, two tarpons, and the usual brightly-colored small fish. On the second dive, we followed a small sea turtle for a while, went thru several caves in the rock, and were followed by a 4-foot barracuda.
We had just enough time after the dives to buy some rum cakes.
Theresa's shore excursion was also interesting, and shows the importance of purchasing a shore excursion from the cruise line rather than doing it yourself. On their return from Stingray City, their boat ran aground in the channel, just offshore from some million-dollar houses. The boat was close enough to shore that some construction workers were able to quickly build a gangway so the passengers could exit the boat to shore.
The buses were quickly rerouted to this expensive house, and its inhabitants waved to the excursionists as they crossed their property to the buses. Needless to say, they all missed the last tender, but Princess sent another tender back to retrieve them and held the ship until all were aboard.
The Turtle Farm didn't have the very large turtles - I guess they escaped in the storm surge of last summer's hurricane. However, there were plenty of smaller turtles. This is apparently the only sea turtle breeding farm in the world.
Copyright © 2008 by Dana Cline
Last updated on 7/8/2008
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