Last Look

We have a lot more pictures...but we are signing off on Roatan with one last memory.  Now it's really back to reality.

Dolphin Snorkel

We had the opportunity to snorkel with the dolphins on our trip.  First, we learned about dolphins and got to meet Mika.  Then, we snorkeled with 14 dolphins.  They would swim right past you and you could reach out and touch them.  We were allowed to use our camera for a very short time, but it did not include the snorkel.  

Mika and her trainer.

More Mika.  She was 7 months pregnant and wasn't allowed to do jumps like the other Dolphins.  Mika also had a 1 year old baby in the enclosure, Maximilian.  Mika kept looking over at him, checking on him, during our meet and greet, and Maximilian kept disobeying his own trainer to swim to Mika.

Chris in the dolphin habitat.

Night Snorkel

We went on one night snorkel and used underwater lights that were rented from the gift shop.  It was a bit eerie being in the water at night.  

A shrimp (far left - red & white) and a Toadfish (center).  The Toadfish make loud grunting-croaking noises.  You know one is very near when you can feel the croaking in your chest!

Octopus.  This one really freaked Erica out.  It was trying to get away from us and Erica was also trying to get away from it.

A crab with big false eyes on its back.

Under the Sea

We made a last minute decision to purchase an underwater digital camera, and we are so glad we did.  Chris was in charge of this purchase and he chose the Canon PowerShot D30.  The variety of reviewed and rated underwater cameras is small.  This camera was pretty well rated, and it was available 2-day delivery from Amazon, so that essentially made our decision.  It doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles, but it took some great pictures for us:

The Reef.  The striped fish are called Sargeant Majors.

This exotic creature is a Lionfish.  They are some bad mamajamas.  They are native to the Indo-Pacific, and are an invasive species in the Caribbean.  The fins on its back are venomous and they can decimate a reef by eating all of the fish.  Lionfish are actively hunted and fed to the Sharks in hopes the Sharks will start hunting them on their own.

We saw a number of Sea Turtles.

This lobster put on quite the show for us.  He was massive in size and strutting around.  We figure his body was a foot and a half long.  

Blue Regals.

The Key

Water taxi to the Key.

Our Cabin, #13.

Taxi stand.

Snorkel Camp

Erica has nicknamed this vacation "Snorkel Camp" which is meant in the best way possible.  The snorkeling is fantastic and the happenings at the resort revolve around snorkel and dive times.

Here is the full run down of our days and where we snorkeled.  

Day 1:

Arrive in the afternoon and get settled

5:00pm - Happy Hour at the Pool Bar

6:00pm - Dinner

Day 2:

7:30am - Breakfast

8:30am - Snorkel at the Blue Channel

Sightings of Note: Sea Turtle

10:30am - Dolphin Encounter & Snorkel - we snorkeled with 14 dolphins

12:00 - Lunch

2:15pm - Snorkel at Mike's Place

Sightings of Note: 2 Eel, Grouper, Barracuda, Puffer Fish, giant Parrot Fish, Sea Turtle

5:00pm - Happy Hour at the Pool Bar

6:00pm - Fish Identification talk given by the Resort Dive Master

7:00pm - Dinner

Day 3:

7:00am Breakfast

8:00am - Snorkel at Bear's Den

Sightings of note: 4 Lion Fish

10am - Depart for Maya Key

11:15 - Maya Key Snorkel 

Sightings of Note: French Angel Fish, Trumpet Fish, School of Squid

12:15 - Lunch

1:00 - Explored the Grounds & Exotic Animal Sanctuary

2:00 - Hawkbill Turtle Feeding

2:15 - Departed Maya Key back to the Resort

5:00 - Happy Hour at the Lobby Bar 

7:00 - Dinner

Day 4:

7:30am - Breakfast

8:30am - Snorkel at West End

Sightings of Note: 3 Sea Turtles, Lion Fish, Jelly Fish, Barracuda, Trumpet Fish

10:30am - Cab to West End & Coxen Hole for shopping.

1:15pm - Lunch back at the Resort

2:15pm - Snorkel At Mora Channel

Sightings of Note: Star Fish, Lobster, Sea Cucumber, Conch, Porcupine Fish, Scorpion Fish, Spotted Drum

5:50pm - Night Snorkel at Baileys Key

Sightings of Note: Lion Fish, Lobster, Shrimp, 3 Octopus, Toad Fish, 3 Squid, Jelly Fish, Tiger Tails, Featherdusters

8:30 - Dinner

Day 5:

7:30am - Breakfast

8:30am - Snorkel at Four Sponges

Sightings of Note: Lion Fish, File Fish, Porcupine Fish, enormous Rainbow Parrot Fish, Needle Fish

10:00am - Relaxing at Pool and on our Deck

1:00pm - Lunch

2:15pm - Snorkel At Canyon Reef

Sightings of Note: Squid, File Fish, Barracuda, King Crab, Eel, huge Grouper, Porcupine Fish

5:00pm - Happy Hour on the Key

7:00pm - BBQ on the Key

Day 6:

7:30am - Breakfast

8:30am - Snorkel at West Bay Point & West Bay

The current was very strong at West Bay Point, so we moved in toWest Bay

10:00am - Pool time

12:30pm - Lunch

2:15pm - Snorkel at Spooky Channel

Sightings of Note: Jelly Fish, Porcupine Fish, Trunk Fish, Trumpet Fish, Lion Fish

4:00pm - Beers on the Deck

6:30pm - Dinner

Day 7:

7:45am - Breakfast

8:30am - Snorkel at Wrasse Hole

Sightings of Note: Moray Eel, French Angel Fish, Queen Angel Fish, Lion Fish

11:30am - Dolphin Show

1:00pm - Lunch

2:15pm - Snorkel At Lost Rock

Sightings of Note: Sting Ray, Sea Turtle, Sea Cucumber, Featherdusters, Sea Biscuits

4:00pm - Hot Stone Massages at Ixona Spa

6:00pm - Happy Hour at the Lobby Bar

7:00pm - Dinner

Day 8:

Lounging and Coffee in our Cabin

12:00pm - Shuttle to airport 

Hammock Time

Wish we had a good spot for a hammock at home...

Aaahh...

Sunset

View from the bar/restaurant.

The Pool

The resort pool is very close to our cabin:

Anthony's Key Resort

We left Zoey back home in the snow and cold and are spending the week in Roatan Honduras with Chris's parents.  This is primarily a divers resort, but we are taking advantage of the good snorkeling.

We are staying on a Key in a little cabin that sits out over the water.  Here is the view from our deck toward Roatan.  A water taxi gets you from the Key back to Roatan proper.