Posts filed under 'Belize'
Blue Hole Dive
Hi everybody, apologies for late Blue Hole update! We wanted to get a panorama shot of the Hole which took some time due to laptop failure. This has now been resolved, so unfortunately the last of the Belize updates will not be in travel order. I’m sure you will forgive us.
To have the opportunity to dive one of the most amazing sites in the world was fabulous – and to dive it with Ange and Dyl was awesome!
After I had completed my Open Water certification, we decided to do a couple of dives just to get some practise in before the big one as it is a 40 meter dive and there is a possibility of suffering from a bit of narcosis (for those of you who are not familiar with the term – you just feel a little bit high).
We had to be at Frenchies at 5:30am and the day dawned chilly and windy but we were very excited and couldn’t wait to get going. The trip out to the Hole took 2 hours and as we got closer, we enjoyed a stunning sunrise – it was going to be a beautiful day.
We had a quick briefing and were split up into smaller groups before kitting up. The key was to get down to 40m as soon as possible as we were only allowed to be down there for 8 minutes. We all jumped in, tested our kit and down we went! It took about a minute to get down which was quite quick considering you have to equalise at every breath. What an incredible sight… We swam in between enormous stalactites and every now and again a massive fish would wander past and then swim down into the deep black of the hole. Looking up at the surface was awesome – we realised how deep we really were! After 8 minutes we slowly came up to the limestone shelf and had a look around before safety stop, and surface. What an awesome experience – woohoo!
Once we’d all got back onto the boat, we headed out to Half Moon Caye for the second dive which was brilliant. Once we had all met at the bottom, we were taken through a coral canyon and came out on the wall of the reef which was amazing – so much to see! Lion fish, lobster, french angel fish, tarpin, triggerfish etc. We were down for 45 minutes and as we came back through the wall, we saw a gorgeous eagle ray swimming around us. The best dive so far in terms of all the different fish we saw.
We then headed to Half Moon Caye for lunch and a bit of a wonder around. There was a Red Footed Booby bird colony besides all the other island wildlife, so we went to have a look.
After one more dive at Long Caye Aquarium, we started the trip home. We were all so tired that we managed to sleep sitting up, in wet cossies on choppy water for 2 hours. Once we got back it was time for post-dive sunset beers at the Lazy Lizard to celebrate a fantastic day out!
It's 5:20am and we're off to Frenchies. Its chilly, windy and dark...
The streets are quiet... no golf carts out yet.
Brekkie while we wait for the boat to get sorted.
Dyl having his brekkie next to our boat.
Its very early - Dyl is still waking up but I can't wait to get going!
Boat ride took 2 hours - the sunrise was amazing and we were glad to get out from under the dark cloud.
Heading through the atolls.
Chris, Ange and Berner catching some shut eye.
Time to get into our westsuits!
What an amazing dive - Blue Hole rocks! Was a bit naughty and went down to 45 meters...
Ange and I warming up before our next dive at Half Moon Caye
Happy Dyl
Happy divers! Ange and I chilling.
Gary, Ange and Hails
Panorama shot of the blue hole - the boat on the left is at the point we went in, in the foreground of the left boat is the entry/exit point Jacques Causteau(?) created with a pile of dynamite so his boat could get into the blue hole for filming a documentary back in the 70's. The boat on the right is the natural entry/exit point.
Same panorama shot, just with an overlay showing where the blue hole is in case you couldn't see it (apologies, but its really hard to get a photo of a submerged hole a hundred meters across from the deck of a boat only a couple meters above sea level..)
Our parking spot - rather shallow!
One of the boats heading out.
On our way to the next dive - warming up
Ship wreck on the reef.
Half Moon Caye
Just arrived at Half Moon Caye, time to relax and have some lunch.
The little marine museum on the caye
Having a look at what we'd seen in the water.
Quite a nice spot to have lunch, yes?
The mermaids catching some sun.
Off through a bit of the jungle to have a look at some island wildlife.
Ange hanging out with a 'tourist tree' - it's got a red bark and peels all the time - like the tourists on the island.
This way to the Bird Observation Deck.
Red footed Booby - I had smashed my foot on a stone and had a bleeding toe.
Lazy iguana having a good session in the sun.
We thought we'd have look very carefully for the booby birds but they were nesting in every tree.
A bird on every branch in every tree.
Sleepy time.
Red Footed booby checking out whats happening.
Close neighbours.
There were Frigate birds there too - the male birds blow out their red throats to attract the females.
Strolling back to the boat.
The water was every shade of blue that day.
Warming up in the sun.
Chilling after a delicious lunch.
All our kit ready for the last dive of the day.
Heading back home after the last dive at Long Caye Aquarium.
Back to Caye Caulker - beer time at the Lazy Lizard.
Ange, Jess and Hails after only 1 beer.
Ok? OK!
The dive crew enjoying bevvies and sunset.
And there it goes - what an awesome day!
If you want to view the picasa gallery of all the pics, click here.
2 comments January 21, 2011
New Years Eve On Caye Caulker
Before we knew it, new years eve had rolled around on our little island paradise. Unlike Christmas eve, we didn’t have an organised hostel party as some of the new years eve hostel guests were actually off to a wedding that evening and that also some people have very different ideas for a good time on news years and it would probably be fruitless trying to appease everyone. Anyway, we woke up to a windy but sunny day on the 31st, and after breakfast headed up to the split with a bunch of the others from the hostel.
New Years Eve dawned with awesome weather too, so back to the split to chill in the sun.
Dyl hanging out in the split, ice cold beer (being kept cold by the zebra print coozie) in hand.
Dyl and Hails self shot in the water.
We also took up some spare cash (more so than normal days so we could grab a couple of ice cold beers and get into the new years eve mode). Having been on the island for so long, it was apparent that excuses could no longer be made and that we’d have to try some of the legendary lazy lizard “lizard juice”.
Stef, Hannah and Hails. Those scary drinks are exactly like small deadly poisonous arrow frogs in the amazon - their colour is there to warn you to keep the hell away from them! Ah well, if you don't try drink a lizard juice, you'll never learn your lesson lol.
Me trying out lizard juice. Whats scary is it tastes like there is exactly no alcohol in it. And yet it is made using overproof rum (for those who know it, think Stroh Rum). Dangerous stuff.
Hails having her turn necking down some lizard juice. If you can drink three whole glasses of it, they'll give you a fourth one for free!
That stuff is crazy though, made with a concoction of various ingredients, at least one being lime juice and another being over-proof rum (rumours varied but apparently it sits at somewhere around the 80% alcohol mark). All the ingredients are put together in a blender with a heap of ice and so you get this delicious, refreshing, lethal drink out the end. Not bad for BZ$ 10 a glass! And hey, being so many hours behind both South Africa and Europe, we had to have several sessions of “its new years in… cheers everybody!!” As to be expected, after a liquid lunch of a couple of those cocktails, a short afternoon nap was called for to ensure nobody would miss out on the clock changing over.
Hails chilling in our new dorm - the hostel's private rooms had been booked up months in advance for new year (think it was mainly the new years eve wedding party people since the wedding was in the hotel next door).
For dinner that evening we were feeling lazy and not up for cooking ourselves, so we popped next door to Bambooz and picked up a couple of takeaway tropical burgers. By far the best burger we found on the island, it had cheese, ham and pineapple on it along with a generous helping of chips. A great feast for sending out 2010. It had been an awesome year and deserved nothing less! We ended up being joined by more and more peeps from the hostel, and a big game of sh!thead ensued.
New Years Eve dinner treat - Tropical Burgers from Bambooz (its a beach restaurant a couple doors down from the hostel). Awesome cheese and pineapple burger with fries for BZ13. Throw in some pink gin & tonics (with compulsory paper umbrellas) and you got a feast for champions!
Selfie over dinner.
Hails showing that yes, that first gin she poured was quite strong.
Cupped! Hahahahaha.
Stef and Ryan watching me put together a paper-umbrella-on-piece-of-lime. You can tell by the look of concentration on my face that its a damn tricky process....
Party people, having a couple of games of sh!thead to warm up before heading out. From left to right, Hails, Ryan, Aviva, Debbie and Erwin.
Hannah and the french dude, going through his collection of french music.
One last group shot before heading to the split for the new years eve countdown. French girs, Aviva, Ryan, Megan and Hannah.
When the big hour started nearing, we all poured ourselves one more rum for the road and headed back down to the lazy lizard where word had it the islands big new years countdown would be happening. We found ourselves a spot out front and bimbled around, saying howzit to everyone and trying to organise ourselves new years eve glasses and hats. Also bunched into a bunch of peeps we’d met on the island in the preceding weeks. The lazy lizard had put on a big party with live DJ and extra speakers and disco lights. Quite a festive spot!
Me and Hails about to head up to the split.
And now at the split. Hails and Ryan pretending to be super cool.
Hails proving even more how super cool she is... :-)
Stef and Hannah.
Ryan, Hannah, Stef and Dyl.
Half an hour to go, party people jamming away in front of the lazy lizard.
Peeps from the hostel, awesome high shot taken at arms length looking down.
Island style new years. Shoes optional.
Hails with slightly better new years eve glasses on.
Zorro makes his appearance.
Zorro steals a sneaky new years kiss.
Ryan laughing at one of Hails jokes. Damn - one day we'll catch one on video!
Stef trying out the zorro look.
Before we knew it though, new years was finally upon us and 2011 had arrived! There were a couple of fireworks and a french dude jumped off the split into the sea, slightly tempting but with no idea what the currents were doing (or what had been attracted by the splotlights shining down into the water), I decided to refrain..
Couple minutes to go, split is pumping.
Even that thatch roofed party boat is moored up in the background.
The Intentionally Bad Photos make a come back, Hails cupped by Ryan cupped by Dyl's head. Incredible when you think its a self shot.
Hails trying out some of the rum mix we brough with us. Quite a strong batch..
Awesome Intentionally Bad Photo selfshot. This one is going straight to the facebook profile.
Ryan and his Facebook profile pic.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
More happy new year!!
Hails showing off her super tanned legs..
Hails and Tina.
Hails and Dyl, proper new years selfie.
More party people.
Cheesy grins all round, loving the new year already. Happy New Year Everybody, all the best for 2011!!!
And with that it was our night! We figured we wouldn’t be up to see the sun rise, so headed back home a bit after 1AM and jumped into bed so that the 1st wouldn’t be too much of a write off for us. What a great new years!
Finally, we’d both like to take this chance to wish everybody a super awesome 2011 and hope that whatever you end up doing this year and wherever you are, you have a great one! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
2 comments January 6, 2011