We delayed are departure so that Bil could try to change his flight out to Saturday, but then it ended up being Constitution day so the offices never opened. By the time we rented and loaded our outrigger canoe it was 9:30. It took us a while to get use to paddling especially trying to get a grasp on how shallow we could go - the top of the reef was only a little over a foot below the surface. The islands are beautiful - deeply overcut rocky shores, but heavily wooded above - every shade of bright green. We saw tons of incredible birds and even a huge bat. We couldn't figure out where we could get to shore for lunch, so we ended up eating tied up to a channel marker. We tried to get to a cave that we'd been given directions to, but by the time we got around to trying the tide was too high and we could not get over the reef that was blocking the passage. We ended up stopping for a rest in the shade of a random island. While we were sitting there we started looking at the coral and sponges growing in the shallows. Soon we were in the water snorkeling. It was a great coral garden - tons of different kinds, great colors, and all jammed in together with a few anemones, sponges, and soft corals, and tons of little fish. We paddled back agains the current - a bit rough, so back at the shop we had a couple very well deserved beers. Before leaving we aranged to dive tomorrow and the next day, camping out on one of the islands tomorrow.
