Caye Caulker

We left Orange Walk the next day and caught a bus back down to Belize City. After a little confusion with where to get off the bus we arrived at the ferry port. The port was bustling with tourists trying to get over to the very popular Caye Caulker and Ambergris. The ferry journey was fast, very fast. When we made it to the island we jumped off the boat in Caye Caulker and were immediately picked up by tout to be shown the hostels. This particular tout was friendly and we found out that she got nothing unless we went to hotels that she would suggest. Unfortunately we weren't keen on her suggestions and settled for our initial choice, and seeing as she was fun and carried our bags for us we gave her a few dollars for her troubles. Our room was spectacular with a balcony on the beach and views across the blue seas to the reef in the distance. After settling in we dashed out to the dive centres to get the run down on the local dives and seeing as we have only a few days left we were in the spending mood. We couldn't resist the tempation to dive the world famous blue hole, and we splashed out vast quantities of belizean dollars for the privelege. This turned out to be one of our best trips of the travels. At an unseemly hour (around 4am) we got up and shuffled over to the dive shop to pick up our gear and head to the boat. A little delay due to the bad weather, the seas being too choppy for some of the dive shops, and picking up their passengers. The jounrey was pretty horrific with at least one person hurling over the side. But when we made it to the atoll, the seas settled and a happier boat we were. The dive on the blue hole was magnificent, as we dropped 50m into the dark down to the rim of the hole and then we dropped further into the cave. Here we were greeted by massive stalegtites from when this was not uder water and cirlcing us in the distance were reef and hammerhead sharks, and a couple of massive grouper trying to hide with us from the sharks. Its a mesmorizing experience, the sheer immenseness of the place and the atmosphere given off by the mountainanous stalegtites. Magnificent. After a little sunbathing on the boat we headed out to Half Moon Caye, where Joey did her raleigh international stint. We have another magnificent dive spotting what we think is the worlds largest logger head turtle, and a pod of dolphins, a first for both of us. As well as many types of rays. Magical. For our deco time we went to the island and Joey and I ran off so she could show me all the places she remembered on the island including a bird observation tour she had built, which is remarkebly still standing. Joey was very excited to see nothing much had changed, and she could find the kitchen area, and the place were they had there poos. It was a wondeful day and on arriving back on the Caye we headed of for dinner and one of Belizes top 5 restaurants. We spent the next few days on the beach and exploring the Caye. Joey had a go at baking me the birthday cake she promised...it turned out to be raw cake mixture (she could not find an oven) sprinkled with hundreds and thousands. I actually enoyed it so much I had two portions to Jos horror. Jo had also managed to buy me some pressies as well, the main part being an underwater camera! So... For our final flourish we booked on a snorkelling trip to shark ray alley. There is a particular part of the reef where the sharks and rays congregate and will play with swimmers. I dropped in a little nervously due to the reef sharks circling the boat, a major adrenalin rush. We swam with the sharks taking photos, and Jo and I taking turns being underwatre David Baileys. I had the lovelly suprise of being mounted by a ray causing much hilarity to the other snorkellers but scaring the jeeheebees out of me! The thing slimed up my back, and I turned around to see if it was Jo to be faced by the hideous beak of a sting ray! As you can tell this is all written in past tense as we are now back in the UK, back in our jobs, organising our photos and generally missing these days. After leaving the Caye it was a straight transfer to the airport, back on American Crapways (still living up to its name).