Ocean Adventure Cat

Cyclura rileyi cristata (the White Cay rock iguana) is a critically endangered species of rock iguana that is found in the southern Bahamas. They feed on buttonwoods and sea grapes and lay fewer eggs than many other iguana species, which leaves them vulnerable to weather events, predation and poaching. They live on rocky outcrops on low-lying, sandy islands, and we feel privileged to know where to find them. Unlike the famous Exuma Rock iguanas, these particular iguanas live in a pretty isolated spot, so we do not approach these guys closely, rather we enjoy them from a distance, through a zoom lens, allowing them to live out their lives in peace without a huge amount of exposure to humans.

Nothing to see here…just a giant catfish/water puppy. But seriously though, these kind of moments are the type we live for. You never know what’ll swim by next in the Exumas. It helps that nurse sharks seem to love drafting in the current behind our scoops, and napping in our shadow in the sand.

Beet, apple and cinnamon oats with fruit and pistachios delish!! Great texture too.

This flower smelled just like Frangipani to me. Anyone recognize it?

Not much beats a perfect sunny day in the in Warderick Wells!

A mockingbird was traveling amongst the rock iguanas this week. He and his mate seemed very sure they knew what they were doing. I’m not sure what they were doing, but the juxtaposition of the two species traveling across the rocky ground looked cool.

Lara found one of these guys, a red cushion sea star, caught floating around in the rough surf this week, so she walked in and helped it settle on the bottom. 
 
At first glance, they seem tough—thick, textured, kind of heavy, but cushion sea stars are more sensitive than they look.  
 
They rely on the water around them to function, and lifting them up out of the water can stress them, impact their breathing, and cause them to fill with air. Surprisingly, incidents like the one Lara witnessed can even kill them. 
 
It’s possible the one she encountered was just stirred off the bottom by the waves, but it’s also possible a passerby had picked it up, then placed it back down, not knowing it could no longer sink itself to the bottom. 
 
They’re beautiful creatures, relatively rare, and they photograph beautifully from just beneath the surface, which is why we teach our guests to leave them exactly where we find them. 
 

It’s been a windy week in Exuma, with very few lulls—but after 5 years of running charters here, we’ve learned a few ways to keep the experience just as special, whatever the weather brings. 
 
Sandcastles, starfish, and a stretch of beach all to themselves—just one of this week’s moments. 
 
We’re already looking forward to having this awesome family back. Now that they’ve gotten a taste of Great Exuma, there’s plenty more of our Bahamian backyard to explore. 
 

The Lagoon at Conception Island, in the rain.