Our tour today is a trip on glass bottom boat to view some of the underwater wildlife and a sunken ship. Glass bottom boats and submarines are good alternatives for former divers that still enjoy under the sea.
Our boat loads on the opposite side of the pier from our ship. One could not ask for it to be more convenient. The skies are heavily overcast, and a few sprinkles fall during the first 15 minutes of the ride to the ship wreck location.
Again a very knowledgeable guide points out many of the sights on land including the smallest draw bridge in the world which we drove over yesterday. The part that opens is a mere 18 inches, just wide enough for a sailboat mast to pass through. Currently the bridge is only opened once per year so it can maintain its place in the record books.
The site we visit is where the HMS Vixen was deliberately sunk to protect access to the island from potential invaders. Unfortunately the explosives were improperly detonated and half the ship sits on one side the channel, the rest on the other, leaving a clear path between the pieces. To further aid any invaders, the bow of the ship sits just above the water's surface, clearly marking the exact location of the reef, the wreck, and the clear channel.
The coral here lacks the color we see in the Caribbean or Australian coral reefs. The only species that can handle the wide variation in ocean temperatures are generally brownish in color.
The seas were pretty calm, but unfortunately a passenger became sea sick. Often a trigger for others, but not today. Other than the one brief shower the weather was delightful with mild but not cold temperatures, probably 75.
Two passengers are missing when we are ready to leave port. The ship waits a few minutes, unties and then we start our 40 hour journey to Nassau. It is unknow if the two boarded the ship, or decided to stay in Bermuda.
As bermuda fades in the distance, and the sun sets to our west, we speed along at about 20 knots. The seas remain under 5 feet, and the ship glides smothly through the waves.
Tomorrow will be a sea day.
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