Fabulous Friday

I forgot to mention this week that we’ve been “greening up” SwimVacation in a few areas. First, we have switched to using reef-friendly sunblock. After failing with several different brands (we got sunburned), TropicSport 30SPF Reef Safe Sunblock worked great on all guests and guides this week, and we feel good about not harming the coral that is making slow but steady progress in its recovery after hurricane Irma two years ago. Next, we stopped purchasing plastic water bottles, instead giving guests a cup to make their own and drink from, while keeping 3 gallons of fresh ice water in a cooler at all times. We’ve also continued to turn off the yacht’s generator overnight, instead relying on the ocean breezes to keep us cool while sleeping. This reduces fuel consumption considerably, and is a lot quieter. 

Two brilliant squid escorted us back to Barlow after another morning with the silversides, tarpon and pelicans.

When we jumped in for our swim, I realized I hadn’t put the memory card back in the GoPro - a mistake I rarely make! I returned to the boat to remedy the situation and when I jumped back in I had a close encounter with my favorite animal in the sea - the spotted eagle ray. This one was circling beneath the boat having breakfast, and let me get very very close. So glad I made that rookie mistake! - Heather

One more glorious romp with the chaos of nature at the caves of Norman before setting sail.

Speaking of fuel, we had to top off the tanks before 3pm today up at Marina Cay, near Scrub Island. Working around that, we stayed at Angelfish Reef for a morning swim, and to check out the remaining bait ball action, a little calmer today, but still thrilling. We set off for a 2.5 hour motor-sail in the bumpy channel, and our guests were feeling frisky enough to ride the trampoline, laughing like little kids every time a big splash drenched them. This has become a SwimVacation tradition, and it’s so much fun to watch our guests submit to the waves with abandon.

Celine became Super-Celine, cape billowing in the wind. We already knew she was super.

Riding the trampoline in bumpy seas has become a fun and favorite SwimVacation tradition. Grown ups getting wet and giggling like kids.

We hit the fuel dock and after filling up, we could have just gone on home to Scrub Island Marina, but I wanted one more swim and I could sense that our guests did, too. Captain Jason dropped the hook in Lee Bay, off Great Camanoe Island. On the way into the harbor, I spied this really cool rock offshore - a pinnacle - that could make a good goal for an out and back swim. The water was pretty cloudy as 9 of us swam along the shore toward the rock. 

SwimVacation protocol for any swim like this is to have a scouting guide out front, checking for depth and obstructions and whatever else comes along, basically creating the path that others follow. As we reached the big cylindrical rock which rose above the water about 35 feet, I asked John to wait with the guests as they arrived while I scouted around the rock. As I reached the opposite side, I saw a shark turning away from me. I turned back and swam the way I had come, told guides John and Heather what was up, and we gathered the guests into a tight pack and swam back to the yacht without incident. Everyone did what they should have, including the shark. What was most impressive was the way our guests fell right in line and did exactly what we asked as we three guides manned the perimeter of the group. This is a pretty rare occurrence on SwimVacation. In the end, I was the only person who saw it, and I actually feel privileged to have been near one of these magnificent, misunderstood creatures. 

On a lighter note, I wrote a Mad-Libs style story this morning, and had the guests fill in the blanks. Here’s how it turned out: 

SwimVacation Mayhem

We woke to rainbows. So many rainbows. It’s starting to get SMOOTH. We can barely see the sky there are so many rainbows. Who’s in charge of these things? The guests are getting BRILLIANT.

Yacht pro Zack yanked the TOOTHBRUSH and we set sail for SOUTH AFRICA. Once there, we planned a FLIGHT. This bay is full of ORANGUTANS, so we can’t wait to jump in for a SWIM. We planned an out and back route, along the MAGNIFICENT  reef. Guest Miriam spied a CAPIBARA then dove down and brought it up for all of us to see. Almost everyone screamed SH*T.  Genna swam around a PENINSULA, and everyone followed. A school of POSSUM appeared, there must have been a million. Soon some birds I think are called DISCOMBOBULATED started swooping down eating the FRIGHTENED POSSUM. It was mayhem. Lisa paddled the kayak all the way to SOUTHEAST ASIA and we had to send Captain Jason to get her. Susie thought it would be a good idea to catch some of the DISCOMBOBULATED for chef Miriam to cook. Later, she made a MAGENTA stew out of them. Paul ate it with a side of CHEESE WHIZ.  Rather than eating, Celine jumped back in to do the SALSA around the BIGHT. Heather and Tara rode an ORCA around the harbor, and things really got SHY. 

SwimVacation won’t ever be the same after we broke the PADDLES. Maybe next year we’ll have a better MILLENIUM. 

Perhaps what we love most about our very special SwimVacation guests - on every trip -  is their ability to shed the stresses, burdens and responsibilities of home, and embrace adventure, fun, the spectacle of nature, play and presence. In doing so, they all give over to the process, and trust us to deliver a week that will change them, allowing them to see a side of themselves that may have been forgotten. We are so grateful to each and everyone of our guests, and sincerely hope you are headed home better. 

Until next time, swimmers! Thanks for a great week and we’ll see you in Grenada!

Hopper