Ms Lilly: LDW’s Cruise Mistress
Barbados is a gorgeous Island paradise in the Caribbean sea. It’s home to stunning beaches, beautiful reefs, shy sea turtles, amazing food, jaw-dropping vistas and interesting caves. Today’s travel tips focus on swimmers who are skilled & comfortable in the water for an unforgettable sea-turtle encounter.
Pro-tip for Moderate Swimmers
Just like with my tips for Beginning swimmers, you’ll be taking a taxi from the stand INSIDE the port all the way to the Prime Ministers Office ($5 USD/person one way), crossing the street to the beach, and walking towards the surf. Unlike the Beginner Swimmers though—your day includes an ocean adventure away from the shore, where giant green sea turtles await. Bring a snorkel and mask, fins are optional (they scare the turtles–so if you’re a strong enough swimmer, avoid using them).
It’s Turtle Time!
A green sea turtle on the rise. Photo taken about 100yds offshore from a beach in Barbados
Diagonally on your right about 100 yards off shore, there are perodic green sea turtle feedings—you’ll be able to tell if they’re currently feeding the turtles by whether or not ships are there & the number of snorkelers in the water. Feeding times typically only last about 30-50min, and they’re usually held between 9am and noon, so it’s a matter of timing as much as anything else. The turtles are shy & non-aggressive, and they spook easily. It’s a crime to chase, touch, or otherwise harass them—but if you just relax, & swim or float slowly over them, you’ll be amazed at how close they’ll come to you. They need to surface & breathe every 10-15min, but spend most of their time chilling out near the bottom.
Watch out for the Undertow
Unlike some beaches, the water at this one will NOT push you into shore. In fact, the undertow will pull you out to sea. It makes it easier to swim out to the turtles, but harder to get back to shore. Keep that in mind, and don’t spend so much time swimming with the gentle giants that you forget the real challenge is battling the undertow back to the beach.
Round-out the day with some local flavor
Flag down a taxi to make your way back to the ship. At only $10 out of pocket per person round trip at the time of this writing, your day with the sea turtles and a gorgeous beach also leaves you with room leftover in your vacation budget to support the local craftsmen, restaurateurs, and businesses. Feel free to grab a couple of souvenirs, chow down on some island cuisine, or support the local businesses before setting sail.
Wow! Sounds like you are having a blast, Ms Lilly! You are inspiring my inner wanderer. Swimming with the turtles must have been amazing. The temptation to “pet” them must be hard to resist. I love the idea of having some time and money left over to really take advantage of the local flavor too!