Pulled up to see all of the mooring balls in our first choice location were taken. Ben didn't want to anchor there because the current was looking strong. He knew there were a few other mooring balls just a little further north that we passed on the way in, so we returned to them and tied up to one. Got ready to snorkel and head to Rocky Dundas Caves.
Rocky Dundas was something I had written down to go see, but I didn't have much info on where exactly it was or how to access it. We used Google maps to get us close to the pinned location, but again, no one really knew where to go once we got there. We spotted another group on a tender (Caesar's Ghost- whose sacrifice we saw on Boo Boo Hill yesterday!) who was headed toward a tender mooring ball, then spotted the cave right off of it because of the light shining through the top into the water below. So cool!
Once we were tied up, we all hopped out. The coral was beautiful all on its own. We loved seeing the prettiest yellow and purple fans. It was truly a rainbow under there. Corals in every shape, size, and color. Some fish, but we mostly saw and enjoyed looking at all of the coral.
The caves were cool, too. The first one we went in, I was afraid to stand in, as there were urchins in the rock under us. We swam around in there for a bit and then Ben found a second cave right around the corner from the first one. It was much better. We climbed out of the water, onto the rock, and walked around on the dry surface which helped us ensure no urchins were underfoot.
We loaded back into the tender, using Ben's leg hoisted on the tender's motor as a step that we all stood on to get back inside. All of us asked if he was sure he could hold us standing on his leg like that and he assured us he was fine, but that he would make us a ladder for our next snorkel adventure.
Everyone mentioned that the second cave was better than the first and that this site was more than any of us expected it would be.
Found a plane wreck site that those who were interested just stuck our snorkeled heads into the water, from the Chicken, to view. No one got out of the boat to snorkel, it was just basically a driveby on our way back to the boat for a quick lunch and sunscreen reapplication. Ben made us a tender ladder out of a spare boat line and PVC in the amount of time it took us to eat and apply sunscreen. 😂
Off to The Aquarium after lunch. This is not a brick and mortar building like your typical aquarium. This was just an area off a rocky island with a sign indicating it was the Exuma Land and Sea Park- The Aquarium, a place we read was great for snorkeling.
Each time one of us jumped off the boat, we heard gasps of awe and wonder. Once it was my turn, I could understand why! SO MANY fish were in one space. Roo loved the Sergeant Majors and I showed her how to put her arms out to see if they'd come up to her. She said one swam by her foot and it made her giggle. I saw the most beautiful teal green fish (possibly a stoplight parrot fish?) with orange spots on its tail.
Hopped into the Chicken (the new ladder 🪜 was definitely a win!) and went to a sandbar beach just across the way. Sasha, Luke, and Bear decided to float the little stream and see if it worked to get back to us on the other side of the island. It did. So then everyone else went with them as they went a second time. The current was really strong and created a fun lazy river experience for floating in the mostly shallow water.
Moose and Roo built lizard houses on the sand while everyone else floated at the beach and looked for conchs and sand dollars. It was here that I realized that tomorrow is Sunday. Our plan was to go to Staniel Cay to stock up on food and eat at The Bottom Line Restaurant that we loved in 2022, but in the Bahamas, almost everything is closed on Sundays. We will see what happens with our itinerary as we only have a few more days with the Grasshoppers and have to get them to George Town the evening of the 16th.
Back at the boat, Lori hopped in to snorkel with the resident baracuda. Moose told her if she got in first and didn't get bit he would join her. Roo got in too and Moose was convinced the baracuda would've gone after her if he and Lori weren't there.
Lori did a little research after dinner to prove to Moose that baracudas don't go after or attack people in the water. They are curious critters who lurk and follow divers and swimmers, and look scary doing so. They go after shiny things that humans wear because they look like glinting fish scales!
Watched the sunset (somehow the ONLY photo I took on my phone today) and went to bed early!
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