O’Brien’s Cay is also in the Exuma Land and Sea Park and has a number of excellent snorkelling spots including one called the Seaquarium. This is both a good snorkelling and shallow diving spot and is washed by the tide so the coral is in excellent condition. It’s a reasonably sheltered spot but is subject to a strong currents so it’s best to snorkel or dive at slack water. We had earmarked this spot to give both Callum and Alex a “tryout” with the scuba gear so we did an extensive technical and safety briefing and kitted up. Phil did dinghy duty staying on the surface “in case” and Cal and Alex went down individually with Chris. Chris was impressed with both boys: they listened and followed instructions and had really excellent experiences as a result.

After that, the snorkellers had their turn. The site was magnificent. The water was incredibly clear, there was a great deal of life and the coral was healthy and colourful. It was like a mini coral wall plunging to a max depth of about 16 feet but with the variety of coral, sponge, fans, fish and ... lobster. The lobster were incredible. Chris and I spent a good 10 minutes watching a huge lobster chase a slightly smaller lobster under, round and over rocks with relentless purpose. We didn’t know if this was aggression or courting behaviour – later we discovered it might be because one of them had moulted and the other was looking for lunch!! Whatever the behaviour was, it was spellbinding. A lobster can be quite agile as it reverses into a hole in the rocks untangling its legs from fans and coral. And, of course, we must mention incredible queen trigger, grey angels, queen angels, princess parrot, etc., etc. and so on... Life just doesn’t get better.