A Catamaran Cruise

Today we woke early to go to a hotel. We were picked up in a minivan and taken to a pier in Bridgetown where we boarded a catamaran called Cool Runnings II.

From there we went off on our cruise. There was music coming from some speakers and there was a bar that had basically every possible drink in the world. I went and sat on the safety net at the front of the boat and watched the dark ocean go by. The water was turquoise in the shallow area by the beach and dark blue further out. Most of the ride was actually sail-powered not engine-powered which gave it a different feeling than the alternative because sometimes we ended up going really slowly and other times we sped up.

While we were going to the first destination we saw some flying fish. They only stayed around for a second or two, but they looked like tiny silver dots that flew through the air and landed back in the water. 

Once we reached our first destination the crew lowered a ramp by the front of the catamaran into the water and everyone got out to look at the turtles. 

There was actually only one turtle but it was amazing. The person who was showing us around in the water fed it and it came up to us. We were allowed to pat its shell but when I did it my hand was all slimy. There were also a shoal of greedy silver-coloured fish that followed us and ate whatever food the turtle didn't get. 

Then we got back on the boat and continued.

Cool Runnings (sister vessel)

The second destination was a coral reef with a nearby wreck. At the wreck our guide told us that it was a barge used by another company who picked up people on the beach for boat trips. They used the barge to get the passengers to and from the beach. Then the barge got too old and the company decided to sink it.

At the reef we were shown some fire coral which was orange and had a white top. Because of the top it looked like it was a paper cut out. We also were shown a plant called an animal flower that had a little tube for a stem and strands sticking out of the top that looked like spaghetti. When it was touched all the strands were sucked into the stem.

Once everyone was done with the coral reef and a little bit of time had passed lunch was served. I had some very nice battered fish, a delicious potato salad, and a bread roll. 

Then we ended up staying anchored by a beach for an hour before we went back to the pier and the bus collected us.

My sister Lucy meets a pirate.