Turtle Down - Apr 7, 2006 - Road Town, British Virgin Islands

There's nothing like starting the day with a dolphin escort. As we sailed downwind toward Jost Van Dyke, off our starboard (right) side, a dorsel fin broke the water. As soon as the three of us were watching, he arched out of the water for a quick look at us, then swam away.

Over the last two days of our BVI adventure, we got in two fabulous dives. The Indians proved to be a virtual aquarium, complete with a swim through tunnel and cave filled with light from a small hole above.

Unfortunately, the lens on our underwater camera stuck open, and we were unable to get any shots of one of our favorite dives, the Cistern off Cooper Island. Diving from the dingy, we only went to 38-ft, staying mostly in the 18-ft range. We spotted a lobster, and huge schools of colorful fish, but the best part was coming around a bend where we met nearly face to face with turtles. Two hawksbill and one green. No chasing involved, but we did happen to travel in the same direction for awhile. When we surfaced, we realized how much the Hurni family thinks alike...while underwater, we were all thinking of our friend, Bill Almond, who an amazing underwater observer. We were all thinking, "What would Bill be seeing?" And we're pretty sure he would have seen a lot more than we did.

Garrett decided he is tired of looking at fish and corral and would rather have been diving a wreck, which starts us talking about yet another trip, later down the road. Planes and boats underwater. Truk. Hmmm, anyone want to join us in the South Pacific?

Thumbs Up:

Black Spotted Manta Ray at Cooper Island, lunch (roti, burger and calamari) at Cooper Island Beach Club, dolphin escort on North side of Tortola, snorkeling at Monkey Point off Guana Island