What to do in the rain?
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Well I guess we all know why they call this jungle of
ours a rainforest. We have to have rain to keep this
lush vegetation happy - but do we have to have so
much rain all at one time? This has been a popular
question over the last few days. We had a cycle of
five days of rain. Not exactly normal - but also not
unheard of. If you have never experienced rain in a
rain forest you should do so at least once in your
life. It begins with a drizzle and then the magnitude
of the rain increases and then it increases again and
over and over until you really think it just can't
rain any harder. It is like the ultimate crescendo in
a musical piece. Then it drops down and stops - but
unfortunately there are also those times when it is a
viscous cycle that continues and continues.
What do you do when all this rain is coming down on you? You can do a few things: eat, drink, hang out with friends and family and then you can also venture outside and snorkel, kayak, hike and even walk along a beach. It might be raining, but at least it is warm!
Cheers to the sun which showed up today!
What do you do when all this rain is coming down on you? You can do a few things: eat, drink, hang out with friends and family and then you can also venture outside and snorkel, kayak, hike and even walk along a beach. It might be raining, but at least it is warm!
Cheers to the sun which showed up today!
How to Snorkel
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Bocas del Toro Panama is a great place to snorkel. We
have many people come down to visit who have never
gone snorkeling before. Here are a few of the
instructions we give to them when we prepare for
their first encounter:
1. Test your mask and snorkel together to make sure they workd well together.
2. Try on the mask and snorkel on your face to determine fit and comfort.
3. Generally you position the rubber strap that attaches the snorkel to your mask so that the snorkel is just above your left ear. Most snorkels are right handed, but if you are using a special left-handed snorkel, you will attach your snorkel to be just above your right ear.
4. Once you are in the water, take a deep breath, bite down on the mouthpiece and submerge your head in the water.
5. Purge your snorkel of any water that may be in the snorkel shaft by exhaling sharply.
6. Breathe gently using the snorkel at first in case any water remains in the snorkel. Purge the snorkel a second time if needed and do so anytime there appears to be water in the snorkel shaft.
7. Move gently on the surface of the water. Any rapid or abrupt movements may fill the snorkel shaft with water.
8. If you want to dive down and see something a bit closer, then inhale and hold your breath so that you do not take in any water from the snorkel itself. Dive down and explore the ocean below you.
9. As you complete your shallow dive, ascend. Once you are sure the end of the snorkel is above the surface of the ocean, then purge to clear the snorkel shaft.
10. Breathe gently and make sure the snorkel is completely cleared of water before you begin breathing normally.
11. At any time that you are uncomfortable, you can lift your entire head out of the water and breathe. Once you are ready, you may begin the process again.
1. Test your mask and snorkel together to make sure they workd well together.
2. Try on the mask and snorkel on your face to determine fit and comfort.
3. Generally you position the rubber strap that attaches the snorkel to your mask so that the snorkel is just above your left ear. Most snorkels are right handed, but if you are using a special left-handed snorkel, you will attach your snorkel to be just above your right ear.
4. Once you are in the water, take a deep breath, bite down on the mouthpiece and submerge your head in the water.
5. Purge your snorkel of any water that may be in the snorkel shaft by exhaling sharply.
6. Breathe gently using the snorkel at first in case any water remains in the snorkel. Purge the snorkel a second time if needed and do so anytime there appears to be water in the snorkel shaft.
7. Move gently on the surface of the water. Any rapid or abrupt movements may fill the snorkel shaft with water.
8. If you want to dive down and see something a bit closer, then inhale and hold your breath so that you do not take in any water from the snorkel itself. Dive down and explore the ocean below you.
9. As you complete your shallow dive, ascend. Once you are sure the end of the snorkel is above the surface of the ocean, then purge to clear the snorkel shaft.
10. Breathe gently and make sure the snorkel is completely cleared of water before you begin breathing normally.
11. At any time that you are uncomfortable, you can lift your entire head out of the water and breathe. Once you are ready, you may begin the process again.
Panama Outdoors
Saturday, September 15, 2007
What can you do from the dock? You can go fishing,
kayaking, snorkeling, or swimming.
We keep a few fishing rods rigged up with small hooks for people to catch and release fish on the dock. Kids enjoy catching crabs along the dock and putting them into a bucket to be used for bait. The fish are plentiful in the morning as they are used to a morning feeding. We save all of the food remaining on people’s plates each night for the fish. The fish along our dock have grown in size and number ever since we began the morning feeding. We have a wide variety of fish cruising the dock looking for a tasty meal. Our guests have snagged snapper, barracuda, and others with the crabs. We ask that they release the fish back into the ocean so that they may be enjoyed by other guests in the future.
These same fish are great for viewing when you are snorkeling. We have coral formations right at the dock which allow you to observe both the coral and the fish in action. You can either snorkel and swim right at the dock or go for a longer distance swim which incorporates a bit of exercise into the process as well.
If you would prefer not to get directly in the water you can observe many of the underwater activities from the vantage point of your kayak. The water is clear and shallow throughout the bay so you can paddle about and check out the different coral formations.
We keep a few fishing rods rigged up with small hooks for people to catch and release fish on the dock. Kids enjoy catching crabs along the dock and putting them into a bucket to be used for bait. The fish are plentiful in the morning as they are used to a morning feeding. We save all of the food remaining on people’s plates each night for the fish. The fish along our dock have grown in size and number ever since we began the morning feeding. We have a wide variety of fish cruising the dock looking for a tasty meal. Our guests have snagged snapper, barracuda, and others with the crabs. We ask that they release the fish back into the ocean so that they may be enjoyed by other guests in the future.
These same fish are great for viewing when you are snorkeling. We have coral formations right at the dock which allow you to observe both the coral and the fish in action. You can either snorkel and swim right at the dock or go for a longer distance swim which incorporates a bit of exercise into the process as well.
If you would prefer not to get directly in the water you can observe many of the underwater activities from the vantage point of your kayak. The water is clear and shallow throughout the bay so you can paddle about and check out the different coral formations.
Bocas del Toro Snorkeling
Friday, August 24, 2007
Snorkeling is an easy and fun way to explore
underwater life. The water here in Bocas del Toro
Panama can be as warm as your bathtub all year round
which makes it a great family adventure. Much of our
island and the surrounding marine area are included
in Bastimentos National Marine Park so water and the
plants and animals included in it are a key resource.
Snorkeling does not require any special skills or exertion to stay afloat. Face down in the water and breathing through a snorkel, your body is naturally buoyant. Non-swimmers can safely snorkel using a flotation device.
As you float over a field of coral, the environment you see through your mask is a riot of color and movement. Various fish swim amongst the coral, feeding on plants, algae, or each other. Crustaceans move along the bottom of the ocean. Soft corals, sea fans, and sponges wave among.
The hard coral which forms the structure of a reef may look like colored rocks but it is actually a living creature. Many tiny polyps are found inside the calcium rocks. These polyps are generally seen at night when they are feeding. The color of the reef is dependent upon the algae which lives within the reef.
The fish which make their way in and around the reef come in a variety of colors and shapes. Some are easy to spot with neon coloration and others are well disguised so that they blend in with the reef itself. Some fish travel in schools and others are lone swimmers. Hover for a while over a coral patch and watch. You will be amazed by the show that unfolds in front of you.
Snorkeling does not require any special skills or exertion to stay afloat. Face down in the water and breathing through a snorkel, your body is naturally buoyant. Non-swimmers can safely snorkel using a flotation device.
As you float over a field of coral, the environment you see through your mask is a riot of color and movement. Various fish swim amongst the coral, feeding on plants, algae, or each other. Crustaceans move along the bottom of the ocean. Soft corals, sea fans, and sponges wave among.
The hard coral which forms the structure of a reef may look like colored rocks but it is actually a living creature. Many tiny polyps are found inside the calcium rocks. These polyps are generally seen at night when they are feeding. The color of the reef is dependent upon the algae which lives within the reef.
The fish which make their way in and around the reef come in a variety of colors and shapes. Some are easy to spot with neon coloration and others are well disguised so that they blend in with the reef itself. Some fish travel in schools and others are lone swimmers. Hover for a while over a coral patch and watch. You will be amazed by the show that unfolds in front of you.
How to truly experience an adventure vacation
Sunday, August 19, 2007
What do you need to do to truly experience an
adventure vacation? Try getting a strong sense of
place. How can one learn about a place in a short
expanse of time?
Take a walk. When you walk along a jungle path you see and feel the enormity of being in the jungle. You see the canopy above you. You see the plants along the forest floor. You feel the change in temperature when you step into the rain forest from a cleared area. You sense the birds and animals all around you. If you walk slowly and quietly you might happen upon a troop of monkeys eating breakfast. You might see a sloth and her baby hanging out in a tree. Step carefully and you might see a red frog which is only found on Isla Bastimentos.
Go for a kayak. Kayaking along the edge of an island is perfect for your family adventure. From the vantage point of a kayak you can watch the birds as they fly overhead going from home to feeding ground or vice versa each day. You can watch for dolphins at play in the Caribbean Sea. You can go into a secluded bay and stop for a while to snorkel and check out the life under water.
Snorkel. Move slowly along the coral reef and you will experience the different colors of the aquatic life living amongst the reef. There are many different kinds of coral, fish and plants which make their home under the water near the islands edge.
Hammock. Okay so technically hammock isn’t a verb, but spending some time in a hammock allows you to take in a different aspect of island life. It allows you to gaze out at the view of the mountains in the distance over the Caribbean Sea. It gives you an opportunity to listen to the sounds of the jungle. And maybe the opportunity to take a nap – after all this adventure, it is a vacation and you deserve some rest.
Take a walk. When you walk along a jungle path you see and feel the enormity of being in the jungle. You see the canopy above you. You see the plants along the forest floor. You feel the change in temperature when you step into the rain forest from a cleared area. You sense the birds and animals all around you. If you walk slowly and quietly you might happen upon a troop of monkeys eating breakfast. You might see a sloth and her baby hanging out in a tree. Step carefully and you might see a red frog which is only found on Isla Bastimentos.
Go for a kayak. Kayaking along the edge of an island is perfect for your family adventure. From the vantage point of a kayak you can watch the birds as they fly overhead going from home to feeding ground or vice versa each day. You can watch for dolphins at play in the Caribbean Sea. You can go into a secluded bay and stop for a while to snorkel and check out the life under water.
Snorkel. Move slowly along the coral reef and you will experience the different colors of the aquatic life living amongst the reef. There are many different kinds of coral, fish and plants which make their home under the water near the islands edge.
Hammock. Okay so technically hammock isn’t a verb, but spending some time in a hammock allows you to take in a different aspect of island life. It allows you to gaze out at the view of the mountains in the distance over the Caribbean Sea. It gives you an opportunity to listen to the sounds of the jungle. And maybe the opportunity to take a nap – after all this adventure, it is a vacation and you deserve some rest.