TRAVELSPECIAL
Schoolmaster snapper on Ginger Steps
was dive guide Becca van der Werff , who stepped in helpfully during a discussion about ‘ biscuits and gravy ’ that threatened a diplomatic incident between Brits and Americans on the boat .
The most abundant resource in the Caribbean is wind ; the prevailing easterly trade wind blows pretty much constantly , albeit with varying velocity . Thanks to the nature of the islands and the geography , there ’ s always a cove or bay in the lee that ’ s diveable . After a short trip , Sea Monkey tied off at a permanent mooring close to Ginger Island and the staff sprang into action to ensure guests had what they needed and were clear on the briefing , before dropping us onto a site called Ginger Steps .
Tropical Caribbean colour is a defining characteristic on land and continues beneath the waves too . Shelving steppes of plume corals in brilliant blues , reds and purples were interspersed with layers of pure white sand . Blue and yellow damselfishes flitted in and out of barrel sponges , with schools of grunts hanging in the gentle current . A spotted moray bared its teeth from beneath an outcrop , while parrotfish circled above . Even at depth the water was a balmy 29 ° C , with visibility of 30m or more . Dive BVI helpfully equips its guides with little magnetic whiteboards to help guests understand what they ’ re seeing . Detecting excitement about
Seahorse on the Rhone
Reef scene at Thumb Rock
Barrel sponge
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