Bimini fun

Our latest adventures in Bimini included diving on the wreck of the Sapona, fishing (and actually catching a big Trigger fish!) with some new friends on their go-fast power boat, swimming in the Bimini Sands Resort's infinity pool, and snorkeling at Honeymoon Harbor where there are nearly tame sting rays that swim around begging for food.  

Bimini, ho!

Sunrise over the Straits of Florida.

In the middle of the Gulf Stream.

     Today we left Marathon on an overnight passage to Bimini, Bahamas.  From the time we hoisted anchor, until we tied up to the dock in Bimini it took 24 hours of non-stop motor-sailing.  

     We were sailing and motoring at the same time because the wind was blowing right on our nose, and the waves were pounding us.  To get to Bimini our night was filled with flying fish flying onto the deck, giant tankers and cruise ships passing right in front of us.  We felt tiny compared to the giant ships.We also got a little seasick from the boat rocking around so much.  But we did finally get to Bimini.  by Brady

One of the many tankers passing by.

Lumpy, bumpy seas. 

     “AAAhh crap, I’m seasick.”  I was seasick because the 6 foot waves were bouncing us around.  When the waves hit the boat I got sprayed by saltwater and, man, I knew I should have   

put on my raincoat.  And I slept up a wazzoo because I was seasick and it made me feel better to sleep.  I woke up hearing Brady screaming, “Jamie, Jamie, Jamie!!”.  He told me there was a tanker passing by our boat.  It had a red hull with a black deck.  The trip seemed like it took forever, BUT...we finally go to the BAHAMAS!  by Jamie

Jamie stands by as we close in on Bimini.

Bimini ho!

Ahhhh!  Tied up at the dock after a 24 hour passage.  Now we need some zzzzzzzzzz.

Obligatory handstand.

The colors are....unspeakably beautiful.

I know...Seriously. Paradise.

And the water is warm, too.

Jamie and a new friend.

Sand Key

Recently we took a daysail out to the reef to go snorkeling.  Had a blast, although seeing a shark sent Jamie into a mild panic attack.  Understandably, I suppose.  Sharks do look scary, and this was Jamie's first face to face encounter with one.  (Well, other than feeding them in the little Key West Aquarium, where, truthfully they seem more like pets.) But the "usually harmless" 5-6 ft. nurse shark didn't give us a second glance as he shot off in the other direction.  

Barracudas, on the other hand, seem to like to hang around, stealthily checking us out, and frankly, I'm more nervous about them than I am sharks.  They are stalkers, and seem to always be watching you, much like in a haunted house where the eyes in the painted portraits follow your every move....<shiver>  

Anyway, here are some pics of our jaunt, with some commentary from the boys.

Dad and me snorkeling.

 One day we decided to sail the boat out to Sand Key, about a mile away.  We wanted to go there to snorkel.  Here are some picures from our experience. - by Brady and Jamie
                                   

I (Jamie) am cranking the winch.

Brady is putting up the sail.

On our way.  We are sailing now.

This is the lighthouse at Sand Key.  They have the lighthouse here on the reef so people don't run into it at night.  There are mooring balls set up around the reef for boats who want to use them so they can go snorkeling.

I snorkeled all around the lighthouse.

There were fish all over.

A barracuda was hanging out around the bottom of our boat.  Some little fish were hanging around him, maybe cleaning him.  He seemed really curious about us.  I (Brady) got really close to him.  I could have reached out to touched him, but I didn't!

Close up of a barracuda.

Here's some of the fish we saw.

A blue parrot fish.  They eat coral.

It's fun to stand up front like this.  Dolphins came and swam next to our boat.

You can see the reef here.  It looks kind of yellowish.  We put up a red dive flag so other boats know we are diving and don't run over us.

This is us leaving the reef.  We had a great day.