Guess I'd better go see it then...
So I arranged a boat trip. The best boat trip. I researched, asked questions, quizzed other hosteliers, and found the best one going around. This trip left half hour earlier than the others - more time at the beach yeah? (Wippet, I think you know where this is heading. Remember the Fat Cat to Green Island?)
So there we are, under way whilst the other tours are still milling around on the dock! Ha! We'll have seen all the dolphins, then scared them away, before anyone else gets close!
Half way to the never-miss dolphin viewing site, we've been passed by everyone, including a friggin' sailboat! Nevermind, we've not missed anything. 18 pangas (18! You should see the photo, which I'll post as soon as this iPad starts working properly again) are all crowded in a half acre, all hustling for the best vantage spot.
Now, how many dolphins do you think we (or anyone else) saw? That's right. Nada; None; Zero!
What is it with me and fucking sea mammals? First the killer whales, then the normal whales, and now the dolphins are in on the fucking joke???
I'm not bothered though, I've seen plenty of dolphins in my time, and actually enjoyed the dolphin watching watching (watching punters try to watch dolphins) more than if Flipper himself (herself?) turned up for a show...
Thankfully we didn't waste time. More to see and do, so off to the promised deserted island for some swimming and chilling (we brought beer).
And what an island! Just like the brochure. In fact I'm sure all the 100 tourists on this particular deserted island thoroughly enjoyed the serenity. Ah, how's the serenity...
Two hours the skipper said. "Be back on this beach at 2:30". I'd been swimming for a while, and was losing track of time. I check my new waterproof watch - Shit! It's 88 minutes (and 88 seconds) after 88 o'clock. Better get cracking...
No time to rest though, so fang those 25 Mercury horses to the coral atoll (or is it attol?) for some more snorkeling.
The water is crystal clear. All the better to view the myriad of starfish. Red ones, orange ones, orangey-red ones... I saw one MASSIVE one, and then another (but maybe it was just the same one and I approached it from a different angle, 72 degrees or a multiple thereof). But they are amazing and entertaining creatures, having perfected the art of sitting on the sea floor and doing FUCK ALL. There were also sea cucumbers, which are the Usain Bolt of the (**google starfish/sea cucumber genus and add here**) world, regularly moving three metres a day. So I've been told. One particular cucumber was very brightly coloured, but of course I keep well clear (natures warning sign and all)...
And we finish the day with a trip to Red Frog beach (I'm sure I don't need to tell you how many red frogs we saw). But then, they did have a bar...
So, starfish fans, come to Bocas!
Hasta,
Damo.
(All this actually happened, but it was a great day, did also see loads of fish at abother spot, awesome weather and water, but no-one wants to hear that...)
Location:Bocas del Toro
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