Monday March 7th - Day of discovery

Well last night sleep was a very elusive concept.  Elusive in that sleep was quite hard to come by.  The aviary situation of the island presented a situation that was not something that I have previously encountered.  The night started out with a number of birds making their calls, some melodic and pleasant.  Then a particular bird began what I would describe as the lost tortured baby cry.  It was the mutton bird.  It was not just one bird or one group of birds.  It seemed like the whole island had been taken over by them.  One would start then another would answer and another and another and another...  you get the picture.  The sound literally was like a human baby being tortured.  It went on all night.  It finally finished at 5:48 am when the sun started to come up.  I swore there was a nest of them directly under my cabin.  At last, I thought as the sun was rising, I can sleep.  Nooooo, because now it was the turn of the rest of the avian population of the island to greet the coming of the sun.    After all, we are on a bird refuge.

Here is the beautiful sunrise over the Pacific.

With the wondrous sound of bird heaven I decided to start the day.  It was high tide in the lagoon which would be optimal snorkeling.  So nothing like a 6:50 am snorkel.

This is the lagoon area where we snorkels.  It is inside of and protected by the reef.

  I was so glad that I rose to the challenge of an early sleepless snorkel.  The experience was phenomenal!  So many sea turtle sightings and such a variety of marine life.  It was fantastic.  

From the morning snorkel we went to breakfast and then a glass bottom boat excursion to the outer reef for more snorkeling.

This is the outer reef snorkeling area.  You are outside the reef where the waters drop off to greater depths. 

  Then a bit of lessens on the Manya Ray followed by the guided reef walk at low tide followed by Island Discovery Tour and on and on...  This vacation or holiday as it is known down here, can be very stressful to get it all in.

This is the daily schedule on the island.  So much to do, so much to see...  The island does a great job of putting together a great itinerary to give you a full island experience.

Then after all that is accomplished, there is the obligatory finish to the day.  See below:

The glass of wine to toast the day...

Doesn't get much better than this!