Tobago Cays (Part 2)

Looking southwest across the anchorage towards Petit Bateau Island. BV is a bit right of centre   

In the morning we went ashore on Baradel Island with the main aims of getting some pictures of the anchorage from the beach and trying to get some underwater photos of turtles. The island and the waters immediately adjacent to it are designated as turtle watching zones so we had high hopes of success.

Baradel Island   

Ashore on the pristine, fine sand beach we took in the views of the anchorage and enjoyed a good exfoliating sandblasting as a rainy squall cantered through. To shelter from the rain (and sand) we decided to hide under a tree at the edge of the beach but there was a clear footpath up onto the higher ground so we decided to follow it and explore the island a little more.

No distance off the beach we came across the first of many iguanas. It seemed reasonably unconcerned about our presence though it disappeared off fairly quickly when we moved a little too close in a bid for a better picture. In all we probably saw 6 or 8 iguanas, mostly in trees or partially hidden in the undergrowth. We continued up the path and almost stumbled upon a land hermit crab. True to form it immediately huddled up in its borrowed shell so I didn’t photograph it and by the time we came back it had vanished! A little further up we met a small tortoise ambling peacefully across the track. However, he was far more accommodating and permitted me to get a full action shot of his transit – great use of the ‘sports’ feature on the camera!

From the top of Baradel Island we had fabulous views north to Canouan, east to Horseshoe Reef and south into the anchorage.

Petit Bateau Island (mid-ground, right) and Mayreau (background). BV is anchored next to Sea Dragon, the research yacht we had seen on the Salvagem Grande island and, more recently, in Carriacou    

Jamesby Island across the anchorage   

Back down on the beach we headed into the water to see if there were any turtles around. There were plenty of cushion starfish and several large, grey/white fish but at first we could see no turtles.

And then, just like the number 10 bus, 2 turned up at once. It was fabulous to be able to swim so close to them and to be able to get such clear photographs.

But there was another group of about 8 people in the water at the same time as us, so we didn’t stay too long with the turtles, not wanting them to feel threatened by the large number of people close by.

Baradel Island from the sea   

Returning to our dinghy on the beach we commented on how much we had enjoyed our visit to Baradel Island. It was fabulous to have swum with the turtles but we had also seen more wildlife on the island itself than we had expected and, for us, quite unusual wildlife too. The views all around had been beautiful too, even allowing for the unseasonably frequent squalls. All in all it had been a great morning’s visit – far better than we had expected it to be. And, of course, we later saw that most of the pictures had come out really well too – fantastic reminders of a lovely visit.

Tobago Cays, St Vincent Grenadines