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Nature - Above and Below the Caribbean Dec 1, 2008

The Caribbean has its share of beautiful natural spots. You just have to get away from the ports and the more frequented islands.

There are three islands that stand out for me.

The first is Saba - one of the smallest and least populated of the Lesser Antilles. Like numerous other Caribbean islands Saba is of volcanic origin. It is covered with rainforest and has great hiking trails that cover most of the island. The Sandy Cruz trail was a pleasant walk through mist and rainforest.

In addition, the sea surrounding Saba is preserved as a marine park. We completed our Open Water Diving Certificate here. Maybe in a few more dives I'll be able to fully appreciate all I saw. At first I had all I could manage just to focus on buoyancy control. But the reef is carefully protected and rife with coral and sea life - reef fish, baracuda, eagle rays, shark, lobster, moray eels.

No photos. I'll have to take up underwater photography next, I suppose.

Dominica is known as The Nature Island. Also of volcanic origin, Dominica is quite large and has extensive rainforest as well as plantations of all sorts - banana, coffee, sugar cane, almond, all manner of fruit as well as what are known locally as "ground provisions" - various tubers that are part of the local diet. Great hikes through the rainforest to Middleham Falls and Emerald Pool.

The reefs off Dominica are also quite rich. One of the dives led us to Champagne Reef, so named for the escaping bubbles from under a volcanic vent. Lots of sea life here as well as on Saba. Couldn't have picked many spots of earth that would have been better for a novice scuba diver.

St John was also a lovely piece of nature. Most of St John is a U.S. National Park and is covered with trails that wind through local forest and a variety of historical sites. Also, St John is justly noted for the number and beauty of its beaches. Nothing up to the stunning beaches of Barbuda but quite nice.