Belize > Swimming with a sea turtle

Probably helped by last night’s drinks, I slept very well. After breakfast, I head to one of the piers to go snorkeling. Steve hands me fins and a snorkel mask. I step aboard a sailboat. As the boat heads out to sea, I can really see how clear the water is. The weather is nice today. There are some clouds in the sky, but I don’t expect any rain. Steve motors the sailboat out to the coral area. It is said that the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef off the coast of Belize is the second-largest coral reef in the world.

Belize - On the bow of the sailing ship

At the first stop, Steve throws some feed into the water. Immediately, large groups of fish appear around the boat. I’m particularly fascinated by the nurse sharks. These are harmless fish about one and a half meters long. I put on my snorkeling gear and jump into the water. Underwater, I see a stunning variety of fish. The sharks are impressive, but so are the different stingrays. Steve grabs a nurse shark and gestures for me to come over. He asks if I want to feel it. Although I hesitate for a moment, not wanting to disturb nature, I decide to touch the animal. I feel a surface that is both rough and slippery. Shortly after, he has a stingray in his hands. I carefully touch the ray as well. At the second snorkeling stop, there are mostly many seashells gathered together. The beautifully shaped shells are often collected by fishermen, who throw this bycatch back overboard.

Belize - Snorkeling around Caye Caulker among fish and coral

On the shells, I can already see coral deposits. I let myself drift with the water and enjoy all the beauty around me. Beneath me, countless fish swim. I look at them, and they look back at me. Some fish swim curiously alongside me. Suddenly, I see a giant sea turtle swimming toward me. The creature seems unconcerned by my presence and passes just a few meters away. I swim after it. The turtle moves calmly through the water. Sometimes it glances back, as if checking whether I am still there. What a magnificent sight. At the third and final stop, we arrive at the coral. Steve goes ahead of me in the water and points out the coral. If I pay attention when he surfaces, I can hear his explanations. Steve taps a shell on the seabed. A green moray eel emerges from its hole to see what is happening. The animal is both beautiful and frightening at the same time. At the end of the tour, I am rewarded with another sea turtle. The creature is calmly feeding on the seabed and occasionally swims to the surface for air. Back on board, lunch is ready: fish sandwiches with rum punch. The sail is raised, but there is hardly any wind at sea. The boat motors back at a leisurely pace. I lie on the foredeck, occasionally having my punch refilled. Around four o’clock, the boat docks again at the pier. I rinse the salty seawater off in the shower.