The Pristine Waters of SVG

I have never considered myself to be the nautical kind, but after years upon years of battling the waves on a weekly basis in the strait between mainland St. Vincent and Bequia on the Admiral/Bequia Express, I can proudly say that I almost an able seaman.{{more}}

Initially, I was nauseated every time I travelled the sea, whether rough or calm. However, as I became more and more seasoned, I developed personal techniques to cope with the boat’s rocking, the most successful of which was reading. Seeing that my trips are generally on Fridays, I would buy the week’s newspapers and immerse myself into them for the entirety of the journey to and from Bequia.

This I did year after year until one day, being late, I was unable to procure any newspapers. I braced myself for an uncomfortable trip, but to my great delight, I felt fine! Reading was no longer necessary to keep my nausea at bay, something which I thought would never happen. I had become a seaman who actually enjoyed travelling on the sea.

I still read the newspapers on my way to Bequia, but not for the same reasons I did a few years ago.
I started to become aware of the pristine waters on which I was travelling.

– Flying fishes periodically punctuated the waters, gliding gracefully, sometimes 5 – 15 yards at a time, sometimes more.

– On umpteenth occasions, I have seen schools of dolphins playfully frolicking close to the boat as though in an effort to entertain the passengers. These beautiful creatures would sometimes swim with the boat for over five minutes at a time.

– Occasionally, a sea-turtle would gracefully strut by. When seen on the beach, they appear so cumbersome, but in the ocean, they move with such a grace, that you would have to see it to believe it.

– I was once lucky enough to see a humpback whale on one sunny morning, and what a sight it was! The massive creature, judging from an estimate, about 60 ft long, was serenely riding the waves. I could even see his dark eyes lazily looking at the boat as if to say, “Why are you encroaching on my territory? Please keep your distance.” – That in no uncertain terms was the highlight in my seemingly endless sojourns on the Bequia Strait.

– I have also been fortunate enough to see crew members landing 4 – 6 ft long fishes at varying points during the voyage.

– I once even saw a shark, or so it appeared by the visible dorsal fin piercing menacingly above the surface of the water – reminiscent of a scene from the movie “Jaws”.

– I never get tired of watching the seagulls diving into the water and coming up with fishes in their mouths, or just floating lazily on the waves.

The gracious yachts gently bubbling up and down in the quiet waters of Port Elizabeth or the awesome cruise-ships docked at the Cruise-Ship Berth in Kingstown upon sailing into the port are also sights to behold.

For further information, contact:
Dr. Collin Boyle
Unique Animal Care Co. Ltd.
Tel: 456 4981
Website: www.uniqueanimalcare.com