Booby Island in October

The idea came to me during a peninsula hike last weekend. Booby Island visible to the right seemed much closer to St Kitts than I'd realised. Google maps informed me it was about a km. No more than a 25 min swim, I thought....

And besides, who could possibly resist diving off the Turtle Beach jetty into the wild blue yonder. Booby Island is on the horizon to the left; Nevis the big island taking up the rest of the horizon.

But there were rumours of currents in the channel (not to mention sharks around Booby Island!) and it was a long way. Maybe I wouldn't be able to get back. Maybe I'd end up on Nevis! I'd better take some money for the ferry back then, and to buy a drink... :)

The first 100 m or so out from Turtle Beach is a shallow reef. The final edge here is nice.

Snorkel 2 edited

After a very long crossing, I spied these wonderful spotted eagle rays as I approached Booby Island.

Although I'd hoped to be across in 25 mins, the currents although mild were nevertheless doing odd things, and some of the waves were a slight issue. This view haunted me for some time - it seemed about the same after every 5 mins of swimming, again and again and again... but nothing was going to stop me making dry land at this point. It took me a full 60 mins with fins, mask and snorkel, but finally I was there!

First I had to find someplace to come ashore. I swam the whole northern side of the island which was rough. I headed back to the western side and made landfall during a break in the waves.

Of course there was no way I was going to come this far and not climb the mini-mountain and explore a little. Unfortunately the rocks were quite loose - a couple went crashing down, far below.

At one point while climbing the cliff a rock came loose and I fell a little, tearing this flap of skin from the ball of my foot. With no other option I ignored it carried on. I was determined to get to that summit, and then make it home. Maybe this time I would see some of the legendary Booby Island sharks, I tried not to think...!

At last, the summit!

The views were magnificent! Here Nevis looks swimmable. Note also the lovely shallow grassy slope on the island's east side that I didn't know about when I climbed the cliff!

The view back to St Kitts - Turtle Beach is in the middle. My route home.

But first I limped down to the beach on the eastern side to explore a little.

Oddly I found this table of rocks and shells.

And this lovely fan!

Then it was time for the long swim home. This time the current switched direction. No creatures of the deep appeared, and I made landfall in only 40 mins but far east of where I intended - it took me another 20 back to Turtle Beach, where I found the most lovely, wonderful, fabulous people, who gave me a cold ginger ale from their holiday supplies while I was still in the water! My first drink for 2.5 hours :):):) Bless their souls!