This morning we had quick coffee and got our snorkeling gear together. The goal was to take Poltergeist to Thunderball Grotto which is about a mile and three-quarters away from where C Ghost is anchored in Big Majors West. At low tide, you can swim into one of 3 entrances to a large cave that boasts a myriad of reef fishes. Sunlight comes into the top of a natural overhead dome lighting up the inside of the cave and dramatically spotlighting the fish. When we arrived, several family groups had already dropped anchor from their dinghies and were swimming around, including some children who appeared as young as three (in life jackets). We threw our anchor over too. It appeared to be holding, but there was still some current, so we decided to explore one at a time. Tommy went first (Paula watching closely for sharks and/or sea monsters) and made it fully into the dome, despite strong current pushing against swimmers at the entrance. Once inside, the area was sort of like a round pool about 50 feet in diameter with a rock dome overhead 15 feet high. There were holes in the dome through which the sunlight pierced and created what looked like “thunderbolts” in the water. There were lots of fish swimming all around you, most of them very colorful and striped and smaller than a foot in length. It was like being inside an aquarium.

When Paula went, she found such a profusion of fish, rays, and fans just outside the cave entrance that she spent almost all her time there, diving down in the hopes of getting some in-focus shots with the underwater camera. (The featured picture shows what we think is a Blue-barred parrot fish.)Tommy had to call to her and direct her into the cave entrance verbally. As she entered, a whole family was emerging, and it was difficult to remain in one place and not be pushed back out by the current. She had to push against some rocks which was made easier since she’d worn her sailing gloves. She saw tons of tiny striped fish in the entrance, but never made it all the way into the cave. This was fine, as caves are not really Paula’s favorite, so she returned to trying to photograph the fish and fans just outside the grotto.

On the dinghy ride back, we spoke with a couple on an anchored cutter who had a hard dodger that Tommy admired for the visibility it provided (it was all aluminum struts and clear “glass”) and the fact that it provided a great platform for more solar panels, as well as being impervious to rain and wind. They gave us their boat cards and told us they’d stop by to visit.

Back at C Ghost, we had lunch. Paula is trying to be creative since usual ingredients of the lunch wraps she makes are not available now. Instead of raw spinach in the chicken, mustard and cheese wraps, she tried substituting carrot “ribbons” made with the paring knife. They tasted good and provided a bit of needed crunch. After lunch, boat chores. We made water, hung out all the damp gear to dry. We half-filled the “sun bag” and put it on the top deck to heat up for warm water later. Tommy scrubbed the salt off the stanchions and metal fittings and lifelines, where it tends to get encrusted. Paula swept, wiped and dusted the cabin, cleaned the heads, took all the rugs outside and shook them out and whisk-broomed them and cleaned the cockpit.

Later, Tommy did internet research and wrote a review of our disintegrating head sets that we use to communicate with each other when anchoring or docking. Paula tried a simple soft tortilla recipe, since her stock of frozen and thawed soft tortillas and wraps are almost gone. There were none on Staniel Cay, and no bread for sale either. But we have flour!

Tonight’s dinner was red beans and rice mixed with vegetables and sausage. We also had peaches and the tortillas. Tommy ate everything, but Paula thinks the tortillas were oily. Back to the drawing board.