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Wednesday 10th February
Today we are visiting Norman Island where we are told there will be great snorkelling. The one problem for Peter and I is that being regulars in the Red Sea and especially the wonderful Sharm El Sheikh, (let's hope we can revisit when things are better) we are used to fabulously full colourful reefs of thousands of fish. When we are told the B.V. I.s are fantastic for snorkelling really up to yet we've been disappointed. The Galapagos was great in parts when the seas were calm and here it's the same. You either get a few dozen fish in very sandy churned up waters or clear empty seas.
A trio of rocks called the Indians because of their shape and colourings are our destination today and, as we slide off our Cat into the deep blue waters, at last we have a multitude of fish all about 12 inches long. We swim a good distance in rough currents to get to the main snorkelling area and thankfully I manage to do some underwater videoing of a few shoals of deep purply-blue fish more than 50 of them and a load of other interesting ones. I'm not happy in the swells and I've lost sight of Peter, so I swim. It's not easy being thrown around and after half an hour we are all back on board ready for the next stop.
We dock in a bay off Norman island, the sky is as clear as we've seen it and it must be around 85 degrees. The waters around us are as clear as you can imagine and there is hardly a breath of wind. This really is idyllic and we will stop for over 2 hours so plenty of time for everyone to chill, sunbathe, eat lunch and snorkel. I disappear first to explore the rocks and caves. The scenery around the hills above me, reminds me of my jaunts on the beautiful Gulet sailing around the Turkish coasts. There are no currents here, just perfect water, not loads but an interesting mix of fish and the corals on the rocks around are brilliant. I'm very happy. I enjoy three separate trips into the deep and these are most enjoyable snorkels for me yet.
Finally it's anchors away and we head for Normans Bight, a large enclosed bay and by the time we arrive after first sailing by the famous Willy T bar which is moored a little of shore it's time form, drinks. The 'Youngers' as our 4 twenty-somethings are now called, are taken to Willy T's by dinghy courtesy of our Skipper, whilst the Swiss girls, Petra and Anna join Peter and I at the Pirates restaurant beach bar for happy hour. Beers and Painkillers slip down very well while we use the best wifi of the week. We head back to our boat for showers and then return for another well earned dinner.
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