Tortola Kayak, Snorkel & Eco Tours is an exciting tour that is being offered in the calm, crystal-clear waters of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. The well-established UBS Dive Center team of Kathryn and Anthony Brunn is offering this tour exclusively to visiting guests from cruise ships. Kathryn and Tony have worked together for the last 11 years developing and operating three custom built dive boats, a scuba, snorkel and water sports rental company and a scuba diving school. In 2007 however, an exciting new program was developed to explore the diverse ecological and historical beauty of the British Virgin Islands.
Tortola is home to some of the most pristine, un-damaged coral reefs and mangrove forests in all of the Caribbean. Devoid of large-scale development and over-population from both the local population and the tourist industry, 'Nature's Little Secrets' are still a hive of marine and bird life. The water temperature is a balmy 78 degrees in February, gradually increasing to a very pleasant 85 degrees in September. Guests therefore have no need of wet suits or any kind of thermal protection. Only sunscreen and hats are recommended.
Tortola Kayak, Snorkel & Eco Tours provides guests with an easy kayak along a mangrove-fringed bay to an entrance where they can paddle into a channel right into the heart of a mangrove forest. Mangroves are the nursery grounds for almost all of the coral reef inhabitants. The shallow protected waters are fertile and teaming with life. Guests on the tour will have the marine life and eco-structure shown and explained to them, while being able to handle or witness a variety of plants, sea star fish and sea cucumbers.
The ruins of an old Fort are built into the rocks that we paddle past. Fort Hodge was built in 1625 to protect the island of Tortola from the Dutch and Spanish raids. During our snorkel we are shaded by the massive old brickwork that has seen the passage of not only the wars of colonization, but the passage of time that brought the Quaker missionaries in the 1730’s, followed by plantation farmers who brought with them a large number of African slaves. No maritime tour in the BVI would be complete without touching on the golden years of piracy, between 1680 and 1725. Cannon balls are still to be found under the ruins of Fort Hodge to this day. All of the fascinating history of the islands has been provided to us from our own local archeologists.
Just below the Fort is the old Quaker burial ground with the tombs still accessible just above the water line. Dr. William Thornton, the architect of the U.S. Capitol Building and the Pentagon (Washington D.C.) family is buried here, under palm trees and next to the gently lapping ocean tides.
Following the mangrove tour we snorkel a shallow coral reef to follow the developmental progression of the marine creatures as they grow into maturity. Tortola Kayak Snorkel & Eco Tours is conducted under the guidelines of the PADI Discover Snorkeling program. This program was designed by PADI to introduce the general public to the underwater world without the formal and lengthy training inherent to SCUBA diving. Snorkeling is a safe and easy activity that allows people to see and interact with the underwater world under the supervision of an experienced SCUBA Instructor, who is also a trained Naturalist qualified to answer any questions you may have. The water is shallow and guests can choose the depth that is most comfortable to them or they can simply relax under the shaded tiki tables that we have built on the beach.
After snorkeling the nursery reef we head back to the dive center where we have showers, changing rooms, a fresh water swimming pool, two gift shops and two on site restaurants.
This is a great excursion that will be the highlight of your Caribbean Cruise. At three and a half hours long it is enough time to have a nature tour, a swim and learn a little of the history of the BVI while leaving enough time in the day for an Island tour or shopping too.
To reserve a place on the tour contact your shore excursion representative on your ship.
See you soon.
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