Exuma Land & Sea Park, the Bahamas , 3/22/2022, National Geographic Sea Lion
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Lion
Bahamas
We spent quality time under and just on top of the gorgeous blue water over the
course of the day. From an early snorkel operation to an afternoon of cave
exploration, it was a great day here in the Bahamas.
Kim is a marine biologist, adventure photographer, and full-time nomad. Not a fan of having her feet solidly on the ground, she spends most of the year diving, paragliding, skiing, hiking, kayaking, and working on ships. She made it to all seven cont...
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After another calm night at anchor on the Exuma Banks, we awoke to a light breeze and gentle seas. Wind and tide dictate all that we do, showing how intimately tied the Bahamian Islands are to the weather. As the sun broke through the distant cumulus clouds, the waters shone with a full spectrum of blues. Most everywhere we have been on this voyage has been in shallow waters, and we have the delight of seeing the seafloor during our travels. This gives us the privilege of peeking in on the lives of the fish, nurse sharks, coral, and other marine animals that are often obfuscated by more turbid waters. The weather obliging us thus far, it looked like a great day ahead. In the morning, we set out via kayak and Zodiac to explore a cut going through the whole of Shroud Cay. This winding channel drew us in with its beautiful waters, urging us further as its serpentine curves dictated our route. Red mangroves lined the sides as far as the eye could see. Yellow warblers sang from their branches, green sea turtles darted below us, and a lemon shark swam by in the shallow waters. Approaching the windward side of the island, we encountered the “washing machine,” a tidal cut where the channel meets Exuma Sound. Many of us hopped in the water, floating down this strong current before it deposited us safely on a sandbar. It was a delight to experience this natural playground and to cool off after a morning in the sun. In the afternoon, we spent time enjoying the pristine white sandy beaches offered by the Exumas Land and Sea Park. It was pleasant to relax, to take in the scenery and landscape around us, and to get lost in the gorgeous blue waters. Some of us took a walk up the eastside of the island as a few white-tailed tropicbirds circled overhead. These seabirds use small crevices in the limestone to nest, a feature that is plentiful in the Bahamas. From Camp Driftwood, we took in a view of the surrounding cays. We spotted Norman’s Cay, the site of a drug smuggling operation in the 70s and 80s. The DEA monitored the situation from Camp Driftwood. The Bahamas has a rich and diverse cultural history on top of its
captivating natural history. We returned to the ship for cocktail hour and dinner, a wonderful end to another incredible day in the Bahamas. We look forward to tomorrow with anticipation, knowing the Bahamas always delivers.
We spent quality time under and on top of the gorgeous Bahama blue water today. We headed out early to one of my favorite snorkel spots, and we spent the
afternoon exploring some of the iconic caverns and white sandy beaches famous
in the Bahamas.
Strong winds and choppy seas did not dampen the spirit of adventure for National Geographic Sea Lion guests as they ventured off to explore Compass Cay. The morning activities included hikes, interpretive walks, a Zodiac cruise, and a short kayak paddle in Bonefish Creek, a tidal creek that runs between the outer ridges of Compass Cay. The trail along the windward rocky shoreline ends at Rachel’s Bubble Bath, an inviting tidal pool that fills when waves crash onshore and spill over the rocks into the pool. A refreshing reward for our hikers on the long hike. On our hikes, we observed charismatic and photogenic northern curly-tailed lizards as well as Cerion snails attached to dry palm fronds and tree trunks. Silver thatch palms dominate the higher elevations, while the intertidal zone located at the interior of the island is home to red and black mangroves. We also observed many birds, including palm warblers, Bahama mockingbirds, bananaquits, green herons, ruddy turnstones, and ospreys. After another wonderful lunch, guests returned to Compass Cay by Zodiac across the many hues of blue Bahamian water, the clearest waters in the world. Snorkeling explorations led us along the limestone wall. Scattered rocks of various sizes, once part of the rock wall, have transformed over the years into beautiful miniature coral reefs. These reefs are home to a variety of juvenile fish, the tiny jewels of the reefs. Juvenile yellowtail damselfish, queen angelfish, and rock beauties were just a few of those spotted. We also observed green turtles resting on the seafloor. The stars of the day and the main attraction were the nurse sharks. Many years ago, Compass Cay was more of a rest stop and a place for fishing guides to clean their catch and buy refreshments. Nurse sharks in the area quickly learned they could find a sure meal. Since then, the owner made Compass Cay Marina a no fishing zone. As a result, numerous species of fish are seen. We enjoyed observing bonefish, bar jacks, blue runners, and nurse sharks, among others, as we snorkeled. Back on the ship, our tired and happy voyagers enjoyed cocktails and delicacies from the galley while learning a more about today’s activities. As the sun sets once again over the beautiful Bahamian waters, we eagerly await the start of a new day of adventure tomorrow.
