Warderick Wells, Exuma Cays, 3/8/2023, National Geographic Sea Lion
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Lion
Bahamas
Today we thoroughly enjoyed Warderick Wells, an island within Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, which is a protected marine preserve. The decades of protection have had very impressive results: mangroves and corals are healthy, reef fishes are abundant, and sharks, rays, sea turtles, and queen conch are common sights beneath the water surface. We hiked, snorkeled, and blissfully enjoyed relaxing beach time with powdery white sand and clear turquoise water.
Berit grew up on the rocky shores of Marblehead, Massachusetts, where she explored the marine environment through changing tides and seasons, nurturing a love of natural history and marine biology.
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Warderick Wells is the headquarters for the Exuma Land and Sea Park, managed by the Bahamian National Trust (BNT). This incredible reserve serves countless locals and visitors alike with its fantastic beaches, calm waters, and endless sunshine. Our morning operation brought us to a protected beach with perfect shallows for swimming, kayaking, and standup paddle boarding. For those who wished to stretch our legs, our naturalists provided a natural history hike to Booboo Hill; a wonderful trail that crossed over ancient limestone and even a creak full of refreshing water. Booboo Hill itself allowed our guests to obtain a vantage point on this stunning island. The afternoon proved to be a successful snorkel operation. The tide and winds were on our side for an adventurous drift snorkel; even still, the current gently pushed those of us in the water, so we decided to tie a line between the In Boat and the Out Boat. This allowed our guests to hold onto the line and use it as support for a breathtaking snorkel back and forth between the two Zodiacs. Shouts of “Eagle rays at 2 o’clock!” and “There’s a tiny turtle underneath the boat!” filled the air and made all of our hearts happy. What a truly special way to end our time together in the Bahamas. So long everyone and safe travels on your next adventure.
This morning, guests on board National Geographic Sea Lion awoke to cool temperatures and clear skies in the calm waters at Cape Eleuthera Marina. After another wonderful breakfast prepared by our amazing Galley staff, all left the ship anticipating new adventures. The first stop was at the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve where the guests learned about medicinal plants, mangroves, and a history of food plants brought into the Bahamas. A stop at Governor’s Harbour for lunch at Buccaneer’s Restaurant and a walk about town wrapped up the morning. The Bahamas are famous for sinkholes, both on land and in the sea. Bahamians call these sinkholes blue holes, ocean holes, or boiling holes. This afternoon, the guests had the opportunity to experience an “Ocean Hole” and a Bahamian “pink sand” beach before arriving back on the ship. Back in the marina, a few birders ventured out on a nearby trail while others had a chance to observe a number of sharks looking for a free meal at the fish cleaning station. Cocktail hour and a bonfire on Sunset Beach made for happy travelers and a perfect way to end the day.
Today was sunny and windy. We had gusts of up to 27 knots but that did not stop our adventurous guests from heading out to explore Shroud Cay. The morning was spent either snorkeling or Zodiac cruising through the red mangrove forest. There were sightings of green turtles and lemon sharks in the sandy shallows. Our afternoon’s activity was playing in “The Washing Machine,” a place where the movement of water flowing in and out of the mangroves causes a natural lazy river. Guests spent the sunny hours playing in the waves and water. After being saturated with the sea, guests had the chance to walk up to driftwood camp, a lookout with a spectacular view of the beach and waves. The overall feeling was of sun-kissed satisfaction as everyone headed to dinner this evening to enjoy a Bahamian food buffet. Excited for more days to come!
