Dangriga and South Water Caye

Because of the time change and the fact I forgot to change my watch, I got people up earlier than expected. This gave them a chance to walk around the grounds before breakfast and experience the calls of many birds.  After breakfast and a tour of the kitchens, we headed to Dangriga via the Southern Highway. Before we even headed out, we stopped at the cashew orchard to show the kids why cashews are so expensive. The seeds are outside the fruit and only 1 seed is produced. The oils from the cashews are acidic and can burn/scare if they touch the skin.

Hummingbird Highway is still a dusty road. So stopped at Soldier's Creek for a refreshing swim. The students and chaperons enjoyed jumping of the rock in the middle of the creek and were given a brief lecture on bamboo, which grows along the creek.

 

We made it to Pelican Island Resort and loaded up the boat for our journey across the lagoon to South Water Caye. Some of the girls started breaking out in song on our 30 minute journey which brought much laughter to the group. We reached the dock and greeted Jennifer, who runs the IZE. Since we were the only group renting out the IZE, we pretty much so had the run of the place. The girls were given a bunk room along the western boundary of IZE. It so happen to be the rooms, I stayed in before several years prior. The guys were given a bunk room closer to the classroom and mesh hall. The chaperons were given these individual cabanas with their own private bathrooms overlooking the back reef. Here the wind coming off the water created a chilly breeze but it was peaceful to look out through the mangroves at the reef and to see the sunrise in the morning.  Once everyone settled in, we had lunch and were given the 'rules' of IZE. Since it is mainly a green facility, the kids were informed of what they could or couldn't do.

 

 

Some of the kids headed out to the beach to go snorkeling, some played a volleyball game while others shredded some coconut and hung out on the dock.

After dinner, we had the first night lecture, on coral reef formations, in the classroom. From there we headed out to the dock to view the stars and a quick astronomy lesson and to see whatelse was out and about. Spotted a sea hare and an electric skate around the dock along with urchins and sea stars. Some of the kids headed down to the beach to chill in the hammocks while others headed to their bunks for some shut eye.