I had the opportunity recently to go (again) to the Bahamas. While in the Bahamas, we went for a Powerboat tour to the Exuma cays (aka: small island) which are +-1h away.  It was definitely worth the trip!  The boat leaves from Paradise Island, right next to the Atlantis hotel and heads immediately out to open ocean.  Soon no land is in sight.

Our first stop is at a small island with many, many Iguanas.  Very fun.  We are all given a few grapes.  They loved them.  All I had to do was put one on the end of a small stick and they would come running to get them.

 

 

 

Next up, the “base” of the powerboat company which is on another nearby island.  Amazing place on a perfect day weather wise.

As soon as we get there, the sharks show up.  They know that a feeding is soon at hand.  At the peak, I estimate that there were +-10 sharks swimming around.

Plenty of stingrays also.

The sharks get fed! They received a few large groupers and other stuff.  The best part of this day (for me at least …) was that less than 30 minutes later we went snorkeling right from that beach.   The reef sharks were still swimming around and a good number of them followed us around during the snorkel. I had one near me (< 20 ft away) for a good amount of time during the snorkel.   If anyone on that snorkel though that sharks were “man eaters” or whatever, I am sure their perspective has now changed. The sharks, just like when I go diving in Cayman could not care less about us.  My guess is that they just followed us in the hope we had some food to give them.  It was great.

Later on in the afternoon, one of the highlights of the trip.  What is that in the distance?  Its a wild boar taking a dip in the ocean.

We were told not to approach him, but the animal lover in me could not resist.  Here is this guy closer up.   Actually very friendly.  He came to give me the “sniff test” and I guess got his approval since I still have both of my hands.  Pretty cute if you ask me.

Later on, got another shot of him chilling on the beach like the rest of us 🙂

After that, the boat trip back to Nassau!  Good thing i put on loads of sunscreen lotion.  A few people on the boat with us on the tour looked like boiled lobsters.  Must have been painful to sleep that night!