Posts Tagged ‘snorkeling’

Day 3 of our Carnival Cruise found us on the scenic island of Barbados.

IMG_5401

As first-timers to the island with so many things to do and see, it was hard deciding on how we’d fill our day.

Hubby enjoys rum on occasion, and he read about Mount Gay Rum Distillery located near the port, so we decided to start our day by going on the $10.00 Signature Tour. The tour included a narrated history of the company by the entertaining Dario, a short film on Mount Gay and a few samplings afterward.  It was well worth the $10.00, and we both agreed due to the smaller, more intimate tour, it was better than the Bacardi Tour in Puerto Rico.

IMG_5403

IMG_5405_R1

IMG_5406

IMG_5422

Out of all the online research I did for “must-do” activities in Barbados, the majority of reviews kept pointing to the fabulous snorkeling.  So after making the easy decision on snorkeling as our afternoon adventure, it was time to make the hard decision on exactly which establishment we would use to make our snorkeling dreams come true.

Thanks to the many reviews on the travel site TripAdvisor, we decided to have our snorkeling adventure with Thriller Ocean Tours.

IMG_5436

A family owned company, Steve and Kim were amazing hosts!  We were picked up around noon by daughter Kim and taken directly to the 35ft off-shore powerboat. Large enough to fit 14 people comfortably, we all boarded the boat and headed out to explore the island’s golden coast.

IMG_5426

018_18

008_8

011_11

007_7

For $70 per person, our adventure included a high speed boat ride along the coast, snorkeling over a sunken shipwreck and coral reef, and swimming with sea turtles!  We even stopped at a beach and spent about 30 minutes soaking in the sun.

Helpful tip: If you’re prone to getting seasick, take ginger tablets beforehand! One of our tour mates spent a good part of the afternoon leaning over the edge of the boat 😦

016_16

003_3

Although I’m an average swimmer & have snorkeled twice before, I still feel very uncomfortable when I’m in deep water.  One of the reasons I chose Thriller Ocean Tours was because of the many reassuring reviews I read about Stephen and Kim. They provide snorkel coaching to all swimmers, novice or expert. I told them of my fears (drowning in my mask being one of them…LOL!), and they were right there with me giving me instruction on how to properly wear the snorkel, jump off the boat, (I was NOT a fan at first!  But Stephen held my hand as I slid off the edge!) and snorkel techniques.  After awhile, I was thoroughly enjoying myself without any fear!

017_17Fear of deep water…me?  Nah!
(If I wasn’t wearing a life preserver, that’d be a different story!)

023_23Kim sprinkled out num-nums for the turtles, and they got close enough to touch!

019_19

025_25

024_24

006_6

021_21

Stephen and Kim wrapped up our afternoon of fun by providing us with tasty snacks and beverages. They really though of everything and made it a day to remember!

IMG_5434

If you’re trying to figure out what to do in Barbados, I highly recommend Thriller Ocean Tours. Perfect for beginner or expert swimmers/snorkelers, it’s a great way to spend the afternoon and have a unforgettable experience!


Thriller Ocean Tours
info@thrilleroceantours.com
Phone: +1 246.231.8300

 

 

Read Full Post »

Snorkeling the Molokini crater topped our agenda for day 2 of our Maui getaway.

After waking up early to capture a Napili “before sunrise” photo, we filled a backpack with sunscreen, hats, cameras, towels and our ids, enjoyed some yogurt and drove to Maalaea Harbor where our 64′ catamaran, The Trilogoy II, awaited.

The Trilogy II

After checking in with Captain Jeff, we boarded the boat and were happily greeted by the rest of the young crew.  Fresh coffee, tea, hot cocoa and pineapple juice were served along with a variety of seasick remedies including ginger tablets (which I took advantage of.)

Sailing to MolokiniAfter everyone signed in around 8:00am, we set sail to Molokini.

Breakfast nummies being servedWhile enjoying the fresh ocean breezes and gorgeous views, delicious hot cinnamon rolls (Mom Coon’s 4th generation recipe) and fresh seasonal fruit were served by the crew.

MolokiniIt didn’t take long before Molokini came into view.

Snorkel funThe crew assisted each passenger with snorkel gear…

Visitors to Molokini
…and advised us to stay clear of the other boats.

IMG_9020Once the boat anchored and we were given a safety briefing…

Snorkeling fun…the snorkelers were let loose!

SNUBA
SNUBA was also a popular activity.

FishColorful fish and coral were a feast for the eyes!

SnorkelingAfter 40 minutes, we sailed to our next snorkel site famous for sea turtles.

Sea Turtle and hubbyMy hubby even got to hang out with one!

About 20 minutes into our snorkeling, the wind grew stronger, and the waves became choppier making it a challenge to get back to the Trilogy.  Sensing my dilemma, one of the lifeguards (crew member) gave us a lift on his surfboard, and we kicked our way back to the boat.

A delicious lunch of BBQ’d teriyaki chicken, rice, salad and ice cream awaited us…

Sailing…along with more gorgeous views.

Us and Captain JeffOn our sail back to Maalaea Harbor, we enjoyed chatting with Captain Jeff…

Hoisting the sail…and learning more about the Trilogy.

Happy!Sailing with Trilogy was a highlight of our trip, and I highly recommend the experience!

Between the personable Captain and crew, they made sure that all of our needs were met, questions answered, stomachs happy and wonderful memories fulfilled!

They made sure everyone had a day to remember…and we did!

Thanks Trilogy!

To contact Trilogy:
Toll Free Phone: 1-888-225-MAUI
Local Phone: 1-808-874-5649
Email Address: ckinkade@sailtrilogy.com

Read Full Post »