When I first dip my goggles underwater during a snorkeling tour in Carlisle Bay of Barbados, I gasp and shriek bubbles. Surprised, I see a shipwreck so close it seems I can reach out and touch it. It has coral polyps and a kaleidoscope of fish swarming around it. Wow, this is beyond my expectations, as I eagerly soak in more of the underwater adventure.
Carlisle Bay is a biodiverse marine park in the capital City, Bridgetown. It’s known for the white sandy beach, turquoise waters, and rich flora and fauna. Stunning snorkeling opportunities are nearby to explore coral reefs, shipwrecks, sea turtles, stingrays and a colorful array of tropical fish.
The rich marine biodiversity in Carlisle Bay consists of more than 350 species of flora and fauna. These live on the scattered patch reefs and artificial reefs in the form of sunken ships. Presently, there are 5 major shipwrecks in the bay. Naively, I was unaware of the them when we signed up to “snorkel with the sea turtles.”
Barbados Carlisle Bay Snorkeling
Close to the shore, less than 200 metres from the beach, there are 6 shipwrecks. From most shallow wreck to the deepest, they are Barge, Cornwallis, Berwyn, Bayan Queen, C-Trek and Eilon. The wrecks lay in shallow waters, between 3 & 17 meters, depending on the tide. Marine life uses the wrecks as a ground for creating coral reef, surrounded by many fish, sea turtles and stingrays.
My friend and I took a quick 5-minute ride on a small motor boat with a driver to the snorkeling site. It was still morning, so we experienced this marine park with less crowds. (Our driver said that our boat was not anchored, so as to help preserve the coral.) Immersing myself into the water I looked down and saw the sea turtles gliding by in the water. Some swam very close with a swarm of blue fish circulating around the turtles.
Afterwards, doing my research, I observed 2 turtle species from my above video: Hawksbill and Green. Just like the name implies, the Hawksbill has a distinguishing trait with its beak-like mouth. In comparison, the Green Turtle’s snout is shorter with no hook on its beak. In my video, a Hawksbill’s beak is conspicuous, when it gets up close and personal to my GoPro.
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Barbados Carlisle Bay Snorkeling -Sea Turtles, Stingrays, Shipwrecks & Fish
Throughout the morning, I saw about 20 sea turtles, experiencing them as friendly and curious. This is probably due to humans feeding them; however, it’s emphasized for visitors to NOT feed them. Turtles have existed for more than 200 million years. Their flippers made them natural swimmers, as they evolved into a cross between amphibian and reptile. While this helped them endure the ice age, many varieties are now endangered and risk extinction.
Along with the turtles, I saw a couple Southern Stingrays. In the past, I swam with this friendly species in Grand Cayman, Antigua and Belize. Still, I never tire of their eerie grace as they glide through the waters. A diver went to the ocean floor, just 6-10 meters and fed a stingray with his arm outstretched in a circular motion. The stingray sucked in the treat following his hand gracefully. There interaction was almost like aquatic ballet with its underwater flow and grace. After just 10 minutes, our driver encouraged us to hop back in the boat for snorkeling another area quickly before the crowds arrived.
Surprised to see a Sunken Shipwreck just 6 Meters Below…
Still unaware of the shipwrecks in the area, we immersed ourselves in the new, blue waters. Looking down underwater, I am immediately startled by the sunken shipwreck. For the next 30 minutes, I couldn’t keep my head out of the water. Absolutely, mesmerized by the surreal new world beneath me. The shipwreck is its own universe, overgrown with coral reef and its flora and fauna surrounding it.
There’s a vast array of colorful tropical fish. I could have stayed here all day. The video (above) gave me the opportunity, to again watch it, then learn and identify the fish species. Among the spectrum of blue, yellow, orange, purple, silver & white, I identified an array of sergeant majors, trumpetfish, snappers, grunts, triggerfish, angelfish, parrotfish and needlefish. Also, the curious sea turtles and stingrays added to the spectacular submarine show.
Out of nowhere, torrential rain downpoured on us. If it wasn’t for the rain, I couldn’t have pulled myself away from this underwater deluge of natural wonder. Exhilarated from the surprise of discovering a beautifully surreal menagerie nurtured my imagination and soul. This dreamworld reminds me the importance of sustainable ecotourism and nurturing our coral reefs and marine wildlife for years to come.
Sustainable Tourism in Barbados
There are 2 ecotourism sustainable projects that I want to mention and support. First, the Barbados Sea Turtle Projects helps to conserve the population of these adorable creatures, that I met up close and personal in Carlisle Bay. They monitor beaches during the nesting season from June to September. Also, they run a 24-hour hotline (246-230-0142) for emergencies and nesting. If you find the turtles on the beach, do not use your phone flash or feed them. When swimming with the sea turtles, do not touch them.
Barbados is known for having some of the healthiest coral in the Caribbean. Important strategies for sustaining the coral are sustainable tourism and the innovative, proactive measures of replanting. This is basically the farming of coral reefs to maintain and grow. However, all of this is even more of an uphill battle with the looming problem of Climate Change as the warming temperatures and water are the biggest enemies to our extraordinary, precious coral reefs and their marine wildlife. For more information on the health of Barbados coral reefs, see iadb.org.
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