Thursday, November 14, 2013

Snorkeling Reduit Beach

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ola-lolas/sets/72157637355165175/

Pigeon Island is at the north end of Rodney Bay, guarding the entrance to the bay, quite a hike from Elaine's apartment. At the south end of Rodney Bay is Reduit Beach which is just a few minutes walk from the apartment.

The beach and the bay beyond are sand bottom so for much of it there is not a lot to see. But there are these fantastic little patches of reef that you just happen on. They are all the more remarkable because they are such a surprise, sort of popping up out of the sand. The biggest and most interesting bit of reef, Elaine calls her "dessert reef." It's the last one she visits each time. It truly is amazing.

We saw a number of things we don't see here in PR. For example, the bright red cushion starfish is very common. They can grow to nearly 18 inches across.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ola-lolas/sets/72157637355165175/

Another common but weird resident of the reefs in St Lucia is the spaghetti worm.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ola-lolas/sets/72157637355165175/

These are actually tubeworms, The worm buries itself in a crevice or a space between bits of reef. the long spaghetti-like things capture food for the worm. I have heard that we do have then in PR but I'v never seen one here.

These little patches of reef are Elaine's after work hang-out. I understand why.

You can see more photos of snorkeling at Reduit Beach on our Flickr page.

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