TCI/Provo 4/7-4/21/16: 4/16/16 BIG BLUE CAICOS CAYS CRUISE, OCEAN CLUB EAST, POOL, CARAVEL

4/16/16 Breakfast-toast and coffee. Today is our 1/2 day excursion with Big Blue. Pick up at our lobby 7:45 am. There is a family of 4 from our resort also going. Ricardo drives us to the BB office in Leeward where we complete paperwork, sign release, pay for the trip. Cost $302.40 There will be 9 of us on the boat. Guide Hugo and captain Mike. Small boat with shade canopy but no toilet facilities. First stop is only minutes away.

Our boat

Some nice boats in the marina here

Little Water Cay aka Iguana Island due to the iguanas that inhabit this place. The visitor center is not open but Hugo will guide us. As we get off the boat we see 2 sting rays swimming close by. There's a boardwalk trail. Sign of dos and don'ts. Other signage for trees, plants, etc. We see lots of iguanas in all shapes and sizes. Silver top palm trees, white top sedge, sea grape. Back to the boat Hugo shows us a blue crab, then a star fish.

Approaching Little water Cay

Sting rays

Blue crab

Star fish

Next is our snorkel stop. Richard and I have our own gear but I did decide to take a pair of BB's fins. I also put on a life vest. I'm not comfortable in open water. Surprisingly the water is a lot calmer than I expected. I'm seeing some nice coral and fish. But then water starts to leak into my face mask. The strap needs to be tightened. Richard does that but it's not easy getting the mask back on. I feel a small cramp in my leg so I tell Richard I should go back to the boat. There were others on the boat who chose not to snorkel and while I'm disappointed I did get to snorkel a bit. We're here for maybe an hour.

Richard

UW snorkeling pictures

Hugo

On our way to our final stop 3 dolphins tag along by swimming along side our boat. Fantastic to see them so close. They are truly magnificent.

Then we part ways and it's over to Fort George Cay. Hugo sets out some refreshments. Water, orange juice, pineapple juice. Mini blueberry and chocolate muffins. Chips. Fresh fruit-cantaloupe and pineapple. Lots of shells on this beach but we're not supposed to take anything. Big Blue is very eco conscious. I see an almost perfect sand dollar. I take a picture. Someone else finds a conch shell-very pretty colors. We just walk around to the other side. Pass lots of birds. Some of us decide to have a swim as we will be here for an hour. The water is warm, calm, and shallow. Perfect for a swim and to cool off a bit. I write in the sand. Then it's time to head back. Ricardo is waiting to drive us all back.

Refreshments

Lots of shells on the beach

Beautiful sand dollar

Conch shell

Writing in the sand

Lots of birds here

Walking back to the boat

Leaving Fort George Cay

Back to Big Blue office in Leeward

We decide to check out our sister resort-Ocean Club or as some call it-Ocean Club East. We drive there and have to have a guy lift the gate for us to access the property. We park the car and walk to the pools. A small one for kids I think and the other is a lazy river style but smaller than ours. It's very quiet here. We have a swim and lay out on the loungers. Check out the beach area. Set up is like ours. Larger property. Beautiful landscaping/grounds. After an hour or so we go back to our place.

Spent the rest of the afternoon at our pool.

Richard

Dinner-Caravel. Very close to OCW. Since we are early bird diners we are the only ones here other than a kid's birthday party taking place on the outside patio. We opt to eat inside where it's nice and cool. Colorful light globes hanging from the ceiling. I learned that the Caravel was the name of a ship during the time of C. Columbus. This ship sailed the west coast of Africa and the Caribbean. There is a model of the ship by the entrance. Drinks-Caravel rum punch and Red Stripe beer. Richard orders fish tacos. Comes with a side salad. Dishes of salsa, sour cream, and salad dressing. I order the blackened mahi and choose sides of salad and rice/peas. Our meals are delicious. Richard said fish tacos is his new favorite kind of taco. Everything on my plate was great. Dessert-Island rum cake and I did share with Richard-a little bit! Our server was Shena and she was the best. The owner Lige came over and talked to us. What a nice guy. Cost without tip $88.00 People starting to arrive as we are leaving!! Quick stop to Graceway Gourmet for Turk's Head 6 pack.