Tobago Cays in the Southern Grenadines

We stop for a day in the Tobago Cays in St. Vincent and the Grenadines for snorkeling, beach wandering, and a day of leisure in a tropical paradise.  Our ship anchors just outside the Tobago Cays Marine Park, near Petit Rameau island.  The Park is a 50 sq. km (19 sq. mile), sand-bottom lagoon surrounded by a series of beaches and uninhabited islands.  We are here to explore the coral reefs, but will also keep our eyes open for sea turtles who nest in the park.

Snorkeling!

We transfer from our sailing cruise ship, the Wind Star, to the Sky Flirt, an 85-foot catamaran, to get over to the reefs that hold great fish sightings for us.

Transfer by small raft to the Sky Flirt

Sky Flirt waiting for us to come on board

Sky Flirt is operated by Wind and Sea, located in Bougainvilla on Union Island in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.  Union Island is about 200 km (125 miles) west of Barbados and directly north of Grenada.

We sail around the island and anchor near the reef.

 Coral reefs from above

In one stretch where the current is strong, the Sky Flirt drops us off on one side of the beach, we snorkel over, cross the beach, and snorkel the other side back to the Sky Flirt, which has moved.

The beach is quiet before we get there

Minions crossing

Snorkeling back to the boat after crossing

As we all waddle across the beach in the mask, fins, snorkels, and yellow vests, some poor woman who previously had the beach to herself for topless sunbathing looks aghast as the minions waddle across with our snorkels, goggles, and fins and head back into the water on the other side.

And, as we get back on the Sky Flirt, we spot a turtle.

Turtle!

The crew then treats us to rum punch, while the captain raises the sails and does a loop around the islands, before heading back to our ship.

 Serving rum punch while the Captain sails

Captain sails, crew checks email (modern times)

The islands in this area are all beautiful, although most boats seem to anchor at the reef where we were snorkeling

 Beautiful, uninhabited, islands and beaches

Boats at anchor near the Tobago Cays Marine Park and reef

 Even a small storm passes by as we sail.

 We sail between more beautiful islands

Storm passing

But, now it is time to return to the mother ship and end another great day and a new adventure.

 Coming back to the Wind Star