If in Belize you should take advantages of the sea, it’s there, the temperature is nice and warm, extraordinarily crystal clear and turquoise blue.
Dieter and I wanted to swim with sharks and stingrays so we decided to go to Caye Caulker, as it should be the place to do it.
Caye Caulker is a nice little island. But way too touristy for our taste. Almost everything is there for tourists. You hardly see any local culture but mostly hotels, restaurants, tourist agencies, internet cafes etc.
Nevertheless the people are wonderful, the water beautiful, and there is heaps of interesting mangrove to explore.
Plus we loved the evenings where the crawfish stand opened. The delicious cousin to the lobster was almost served as a hotdog and costed next to nothing. Yum what a treat and we took advantage of it each night.
We got to stay near the “The Split”, which is the place where the island was split in two after Hurricane Hattie in 1961.
A surprisingly affectionate stingray
We went out on this beautiful boat ride. The water is incredibly clear and as we snorkel and swim around it’s like a huge and an amazing world opens up, yet to be discovered.
Dieter and I swam right next to each other and for some silly reason I always think I can talk underwater, and share my overwhelming joy with the things I see. Off course I soon realize that opening my mouth underwater is foolish and I start pointing in all various directions instead — still with a smirk on my face though.
All around us there are various fish, corals in all shapes, colors and sizes and all of a sudden a stingray appeared. It was a southern stingray and it was an extremely friendly stingray. So friendly that it was rubbing its belly towards me. When I petted it I could almost hear it purr, and if I stopped for a bit it came back and wanted more. I guess the poor ray was a bit confused whether it was a playful kitten, or a ray. I obviously realized that the locals have trained some of the rays to be petted witch off course is a no go. Wild animals shouldn’t be treated as zoo animals and be deprived their natural habitats and be dependent on people for treats or worse for food. Nevertheless it was an amazing experience to be “allowed” so close to a wild animal. I had never dreamed of cuddling with a stingray before that afternoon.
The crew aboard the boat had made sure there was an extra strong guy on board to help get me pulled out of the water again. That guy was Bobby. He was as fit and as strong as needed. He did a really good job together with Charlie and Jerry, the other crew members.
We sailed a little further and went right back into the sea.
This time with a lot of nurse sharks and even more southern stingrays in one gigantic group. Wow this was an awesome adventure. It was a bit frightening being my first time swimming with sharks, and yet absolutely fantastic. A bit surreal to be so close to wild animals with so many and razor sharp teeth.
We sailed further and Dieter jumped back in. This time I stayed on the boat and talked with Mette and Michael; also from Denmark.
Later that evening and with only a few days away from Dieter’s birthday, we enjoyed the sunset and a coconut rum with pineapple juice together with Mette and Michael. Celebrating Dieter’s upcoming birthday and the extraordinary day we’ve all had in the company of phenomenal marine life.
Insight and Visions 