Day 5 - An Excursion to Starfish Island and Snorkeling in Belize's Barrier Reef

Cruise Trip  Day 5 – Belize

Today we visited our third port of call. Our cruise ship - the Carnival Miracle docked near Belize early this morning.

We have never been to Belize and would have liked to go on a city bus tour and learned about the people and history of this country.

However, we also wished to engage in an activity which we otherwise would not have an opportunity to do in Canada. Snorkeling in Belize's Barrier Reef ! We made the decision to go snorkeling.

Our excursion was scheduled to  departe at 8:45am.

We were asked to assemble in the cruise ship’s theatre and waited for our turn to go into the tender boat.

Passengers who purchased land excursions in Belize were asked to sit and wait to be called. There were a lot of people who had signed up for various activities on land.

The cruise staff did an excellent job organizing the tendering of its passengers for the various shore excursions.

We were given a yellow sticker and waited only for a few minutes before our group was called.

Snorkeling Vest

Our group was put in a tender boat which took us to the barrier reef after about a 30 minutes ride.

I was excited and a little nervous about this snorkeling excursion, my third one on this cruise. 

But this was the first time I had to use the full set of snorkeling equipment – mask, snorkeling vest and fins.  

Snorkeling Fins

The instructor gave us very clear instructions what and what not to do when snorkeling in the barrier reef so that we would not destroy any part of this beautiful reef.

We were divided into three groups, beginner, intermediate and advanced.

There were only a few people in the advanced group, about half and half in the immediate and beginner’s group.

Snorkeling in the Barrier Reef in Belize!

I admired some people in the beginners group with some medical problems.
Regardless of their age and some minor medical issues, a few people still wanted to have this experience.   I was inspired by these brave souls who did not seem to be deterred by their apparent limited physical abilities.

We snorkeled in a group in the Barrier Reef. 

With our equipment on properly, we got off the boat from a ladder and into the water. It was a little cool to the touch but as I immersed myself in the water, it was fine.

I was a little nervous at the beginning. So I stayed close to the rescue boat and later to one of the staff members. I learned that I needed to get my breathing rhythm right to prevent getting water into my mouth.

It was tiring but invigorating to snorkel in deep water and watch the colourful fish swimming around me and the coral wavering in the bottom of the sea bed.

The singing dancing bartender on our catamaran!

The snorkeling was scheduled for an hour. Though tired from all the kicking and swimming around, I was glad that I could sustain for the entire duration. From time to time, our guide yield out warnings such as: a stingray is coming!

Look deeper, there is the lobster!

We all listened carefully. In case there was a shark coming close to us.

We snorkeled  and stayed close together as a group. I was  proud when we were done! Though I bought my new snorkeling equipment, I got it mixed up and used the one issued by the staff on the snorkeling catamaran.

While sailing to our next destination, the bartender served us some happy juice. He was a jolly fella, singing and dancing while serving the drinks to us.

His infectious cheerful mood affected us as well! He was more than a bartender, he was an entertainer as well!

Starfish Island, Belize

After the snorkeling in the barrier reef, the catamaran took us to Starfish Island.

Starfish Island, Belize

I was going to buy some wi fi time on the island so that we could check our emails and do some blogging.

But I was told that the wi fi was not available for purchase.

However, the lady in the office was kind enough to give me the password so that I was able to use the  wi fi to check my emails which was all I could do.

We did not want to lie in the sun to sun bath, so we stayed in the shade provided by a thatched roof hut made of palm leaves.



















It was comfortable with the sea breezes blowing .

A gentleman came and started talking to us thinking that he talked to S. sometime earlier.

We had a great conversation with this gentleman from Memphis, Tenseness. He told us that he was a roofer and he got his business from chasing the hails that had damaged people’s roofs.

What a heck of a smart business man!

Starfish Island is a very small but peaceful island with limited amenities.

Starfish Island, Belize

It was quiet without a lot of tourists compared to the other ports, a good place for people like me who enjoy taking pictures of nice scenery.














After our snorkeling excursion, we went back to our cruise ship, relaxed a little and took a nap.

At dinner, we got talking to a nice couple Dana and Robert, from Ottawa, Canada, who later invited us to join them for dinner the next evening.

Another great day full of activities and meeting interesting people on the cruise!

     

R.T.
Starfish Island
Belize