Athol Islands, Green Cay, Near Nassau

There are hundreds of islands like this to explorer in the Bahamas.

December 21-22nd

After leaving Atlantis, Sorin, Adriana, and our family sailed past the Attol Islands just north east of Paradise Island, and sailed to Green Cay. We choose this island, because it looked like it had an amazing beach. The picture above is an island we sailed past along the way. The conditions were excellent, wonderful sailing, and a beautiful sunny day as you can see. Sorin and Adriana got a little sea sick. The wave action is still a little heavier than you might experience on a day like this back home on Lake Ontario. After all this is winter in the Bahamas.

Black Diamond, anchored just out side of Green Cay.

Thomas building a sand castle. Did you know he wants to be an architect?

And Alex trying to figure out how he can cause some trouble.

When we arrived on the Island, Adriana, Roxane and kids explored the island and built sand castles, while Sorin and I went snuba diving. I am a certified Open water diver, but what I keep on board is a snuba system right now. It is basically a cross between Scuba and Snorkeling. You don’t have to be a certified diver to use it, so its great for kids or guests. You have a mouth piece exactly the same as scuba. But, rather than an air tank, there is gasoline compressor that remains on the surface, and pumps pressurized air down a 40 foot hose. It is very easy and natural to breath through it, and very similar to scuba. The compressor is a 4 hp Honda, which floats on a tube, and follows you along as you swim under the water. With a liter of fuel you can snuba for about 2 hours. As long as you have gasoline there is an unlimited supply of air, no need to look for places to fill your tanks.

These sand dollars are actually about 3 inches wide, and the Queen Conch is almost a foot.

Here is a shot in my hands to give you some perspective.

I found a very rare Queen Conch, apparently worth $250 at the cruise ship terminal, where they are sold to tourists. Roxane made me throw it back because you can’t eat it, it might be poisons.

Then we headed back in the dark, navigating through the rocks, cuts and small islands back to Nassau. We used the chart plotter, depth sounder, radar, paper charts, and visual sight all at once to make sure we don’t hit any reefs, rocks or islands. Sorin stated he now appreciates the responsibility of skippering around here. He said you must be brave and crazy at the same time.

We spent the night at anchor in the channel between Nassau and Paradise island. This would ensure that they do not miss their flight back to Toronto. We had a nice dinner the night before on the boat, and gave them a dinghy ride to shore in the morning and escorted them to the taxi for the airport.

Sorin, Adriana and the kids. Thomas proudly wears his PCYC learn to sail shirt!

Dinghy to the main land.

And off to the airport.