First VI EcoTour Trip

Kendra reminded me that I never posted about my first VI Ecotours trip. That one began with a short dingy ride (~10 person inflatable boat) to a nearby cay (a small island, cay is pronounced either “kay” or “key”) called Cas Cay. We then went on a 30 minute hike on the cay and also a coral barrier (a rocky barrier connecting Cas Cay with another cay that is between the ocean and the lagoon composed of broken coral accumulated over hundreds of years).

We then snorkeled in the lagoon, which had many interesting creatures include a big lobster (I mean BIG), many conchs, including a really large one (about 1.5 ft long), lots of tropical fish, many kinds of coral, mangrove jelly fish (which can sting, but spend their time on the bottom, they are not predators like other jellyfish, instead they harbor algae which feed them, much as a lichen is composed of a fungus fed by an algae), and a gigantic puffer fish. The puffer fish was not inflated, and it was about 2.5 ft long, and about 2ft wide (a very blocky fish). It must be huge when it inflates!

Assuming I start working there, I’ll have access to the pictures which I will post (every tour has a photographer with a digital camera in a water proof case, and VI Ecotours sells the CD’s to the tour members back at the hut… I assume if I work there I could burn some for free).