Grenadines Best Photos

Beachcombers Hotel (Dec 7, 2008, 08:16am) This is the reception building of the Beachcombers Hotel. We stayed one night at this hotel before boarding the sailboat.

Sailboats (Dec 11, 2008, 09:50am) Sailboats in Clifton Harbour, Union Island.

Petit Bateau at Dawn (Dec 11, 2008, 06:28am) This is an early morning picture of Petit Bateau in the Tobago Cays, with sailboats that had anchored for the night.

Picnic Table, Mustique Style (Dec 9, 2008, 09:09am) This picnic table is on the beach on the southern end of Britannia Bay, on the western side of Mustique island. In the distance you can see the southeast shore of Bequia Island, and behind that, St. Vincent itself.

Ruins at Moonhole (Dec 8, 2008, 11:54am) This is the arch that gives Moonhole its name. The building in this arch was abandoned when a large boulder fell through the roof (and crushed the master bed).

Dinghy Dock in Admiralty Bay (Dec 8, 2008, 08:33am) This is a view of Admiralty Bay in Bequia. The foreground shows one of the dinghy docks along the shore.

Walking Saline Bay Beach (Dec 12, 2008, 04:31pm) Daphne and Judy walk along the beach in Saline Bay after all the cruise ship tourists have gone back to their boat.

Calliaqua Bay (Dec 14, 2008, 08:20am) This is a view of Calliaqua Bay, off the south shore of St. Vincent.

Early Morning Birds (Dec 10, 2008, 06:57am) A flock of birds seen over the reefs of the Tobago Cays. Petit Tobac is in the background.

Trunkfish Up Close (Dec 10, 2008, 02:38pm) Liz (the chef on the sailboat) sometimes throws food scraps out the window. This attracts the trunkfish, who swarm next to the sailboat. When they hold still long enough, I can get good pictures of them. (Gallery: Travel Journals > Grenadines 08 > Grenadines Best Photos)

Trunkfish (Dec 10, 2008, 10:12am) This trunkfish was swimming among tcoral mounds inside Horseshoe Reef in the Tobago Cays.

Flounder Hidden Against Rock (Dec 13, 2008, 02:57pm) Flounders are masters of camouflage. If this picture were not sharpened and as well cropped, you would have a very hard time spotting this fish. Be sure to check out the next picture, where this flounder moves.

Flounder Revealed, As It Moves (Dec 13, 2008, 02:58pm) This is the same flounder that was camouflaged in the previous picture; however, this was taken as the flounder was moving between rocks. Notice it has lost its camouflage coloration.

Fish (Dec 10, 2008, 02:22pm) [Species identification pending]. On one of the coral mounds inside Horseshoe Reef in the Tobago Cays.

Caribbean squid (Dec 10, 2008, 10:29am) Seen while snorkeling in the Tobago Cays.

Blue Tang (Dec 10, 2008, 10:47am) [Species identification pending]. Among the coral mounds inside Horseshoe Reef in the Tobago Cays.

Queen Parrotfish (Dec 10, 2008, 02:31pm) Seen among the coral mounds in the Tobago Cay.

Squirrelfish (Dec 10, 2008, 02:33pm) Seen among the coral mounds in the Tobago Cay.

Trumpet Fish (Dec 13, 2008, 03:02pm) [Species identification pending]. Just off Young Island, next to St. Vincent.

Fish (Dec 10, 2008, 09:53am) [Species identification pending]. On one of the coral mounds inside Horseshoe Reef in the Tobago Cays.

School of Fish (Dec 10, 2008, 02:22pm) [Species identification pending]. Among the coral mounds inside Horseshoe Reef in the Tobago Cays.

School of Fish (Dec 10, 2008, 10:43am) [Species identification pending]. Among the coral mounds inside Horseshoe Reef in the Tobago Cays.

School of Fish (Dec 12, 2008, 11:46am) Near the north shore of Chatham Bay, at the west side of Union Island, are spawning grounds for fish. Millions of tiny fish swarm the bay, food for pelicans and entertainment for snorkelers. This picture is too static to capture the magic of their movement,

Explosion of fish (Dec 10, 2008, 02:22pm) Fish, fish and more fish swarming around us in the Tobago Cays. At this particular coral mound, some of the tour operators have started to feed the fish, which causes them to swarm around any human visitors.

Underwater Seascape (Dec 10, 2008, 10:44am) Sea fans and a school of minnows on one of the coral mounds in the Tobago Cays.

Schools of Fish (Dec 10, 2008, 02:04pm) Another underwater seascape, with hundreds of fish among the coral mounds of the Tobago Cays.

Underwater Vista (Dec 10, 2008, 10:23am) Part of one of the sea mounds in the Tobago Cay. The surface of the water (at the top of the picture) gives you a sense for how shallow the water is inside Horseshoe Reef.

Soft Corel (Dec 9, 2008, 03:10pm) [Species identification pending]. On the edge of one of the coral mounds in the Tobago Cays.

Sea Urchins (Dec 13, 2008, 02:55pm) [Species identification pending]. Just off Young Island, next to St. Vincent.

Sea Urchin (Dec 13, 2008, 02:55pm) [Species identification pending]. Just off Young Island, next to St. Vincent.

Pipe Coral (Dec 13, 2008, 02:56pm) [Species identification pending]. Just off Young Island, next to St. Vincent.

Common sea fan (Dec 8, 2008, 01:03pm) Seen snorkeling next to Petit Nevis

Sea Fan (Dec 10, 2008, 10:08am) [Species identification pending]. On one of the coral mounds inside Horseshoe Reef in the Tobago Cays.

Sea Fan (Dec 10, 2008, 10:14am) [Species identification pending]. On one of the coral mounds inside Horseshoe Reef in the Tobago Cays.

Green Sea Turtle (Dec 9, 2008, 02:48pm) The turtle is coming up for air in the protected area just south of Baradal Island in the Tobago Cays.

Green Sea Turtle (Dec 9, 2008, 02:49pm) This turtle is eating sea grass on the ocean bottom (at a depth of perhaps 12-15 feet). The sea grass fields are in a protected area just south of Baradal Island in the Tobago Cays.

Sea Turtle (Dec 8, 2008, 09:27am) This turtle was floating in a tank at the Bequia Turtle Farm.

Tortoise (Dec 8, 2008, 09:29am) This tortoise was one of the few non-aquatic residents of the Bequia Turtle Farm.

Green Sea Turtle (Dec 8, 2008, 09:30am) This turtle lives at the Bequia Turtle Farm, and was lifted out of its pool to pose for this picture.

Ghost crab (Dec 9, 2008, 08:23am) Seen on the beach south of Britannia Bay, Mustique.

Antillean Crested Hummingbird (Dec 8, 2008, 08:52am) Spotted in the bushes near "The Fort", which overlooks Admiralty Bay in Bequia from the north.

Bird (Dec 10, 2008, 03:49pm) [Species identification pending]. This little fellow was seen in a tree on Petit Bateau in the Tobago Cays.

Pelican in flight (Dec 12, 2008, 12:28pm) Chatham Bay, Union Island

Pelican in flight (Dec 12, 2008, 12:47pm) Chatham Bay, Union Island

Pelican Diving (Dec 12, 2008, 12:24pm) A Pelican caught in mid dive in Chatham Bay, Union Island.

Pelican Perch (Dec 12, 2008, 02:14pm) At the west end of Union Island, just past Chatham Bay, the Pelicans perch on any and all available surfaces. If you look closely, you can see that the pelicans are not alone on this rock, but based on the white streaks, they have been there for a while.

A Goat (Dec 8, 2008, 09:58am) Goats are quite common all over the Grenadines. Sheep as well.

Moonhole Houses (Dec 8, 2008, 11:53am) Moonhole is an interesting, rustic colony at the southwestern end of Bequia. The buildings are all stone and built right into the hillside. There is a resort that still operates out of Moonhole, so many of the buildings are in use (although a few have fallen into ruin).

Sunshine Bar (Dec 11, 2008, 10:21am) Not sure whether they sell more drinks or T-shirts. This is an interesting bar entrance in Clifton on Union Island.

Small Market (Dec 11, 2008, 10:03am) This is a small market in downtown Clifton, on Union Island.