Showing posts with label San Salvador. Show all posts
Showing posts with label San Salvador. Show all posts

Saturday, 23 November 2013

Dixon Hill Lighthouse - San Salvador

On our last afternoon in San Salvador Andrew and I rented a car and drove the ~55 km around the island. The most interesting stop was the Dixon Hill Lighthouse.

"Built in 1887 on a former plantation owned by John Dixon, this lighthouse is still occupied and operated by lighthouse keepers who refuel the 400,000 candle powered lighthouse by hand every 2 hours and 15 minutes. It stands 163 feet above sea level, with a visibility of 19 miles, and is one of the most visited landmarks on the island. It is one of the few remaining manually-operated lighthouses in the world and one of only three of its type in The Islands Of The Bahamas."

The winding steps to the top.
Looking at the lens.

Some funky patterns in the light of the lens.

Panorama view from the top.
Looking west toward the ocean.
Another panorama view.
There are a lot of inland lakes on the island.
WD-40 and oil . . . what more do you need?
Instructions?


San Salvador and Riding Rock Resort

On San Salvador Island we've been staying at Riding Rock Resort, a small family owned business. This week there are only Andrew and I and a father & son from Wisconsin, along with a couple others who came on just two or three dives each. This compared to 37 people they had last week so we're very happy we chose to come this week!

Riding Rock Resort
Shelley, Phil, Devon, Andrew
The staff are very friendly and tease and laugh and joke with each other as well as with us. It's a good group of people.

The island has a population of about 1200 people. One of the main employers is the large Club Med resort just a few minutes walk from our little place. We definitely prefer our little place!

In addition to tourism, the Gerace Research Centre which focuses on geology, biology, ecology and archaeology brings in a lot of people to the island.

The diving here has been absolutely amazing! Far more fish of all sizes than we've seen at many other places. Although fishing is done on the other side of the island, away from the dive areas, most of it seems to be for personal use rather than commercial. This has obviously allowed the fish population to maintain or grow. We saw sharks on every dive except the night dive and turtles on about three dives. We really love seeing the turtles and this time a couple of them even hung around for Andrew to get some good photos of them.

Here are links to his posts and photos.

San Salvador 1
San Salvador 2
San Salvador 3

Iguana statue at the main town area -- which consists of a few houses, a store, a bar and three churches. 
Had to take this photo for my great nephew Karsten, a 2-year-old who loves "diggers."
The reason they have the digger close by is because they often have to
move sand out of the entrance to the dock area.
Overlooking the resort from our 2nd floor room.
The main building with reception, dining room and lounge.

From the marina area, looking out towards the ocean.
Cockburn Town

Divemaster Bruce getting ready to hook the dive site buoy.
View of the resort as we enter the dock area.
As we walked to the marina one morning Andrew thought he saw a lizard on one of the plants.
He was right . . . sort of!
Divemaster Bruce in his usual spot and relaxed position between dives.
Andrew's relaxed position between dives.
"The Beer of the Bahamas."  The rum punch was pretty good too!


Friday, 22 November 2013

San Salvador Sunsets

We've had some really excellent sunsets this whole week on San Salvador Island.

Anchor from The Frascate which was built in 1886 in Germany and sank on New Year's Day 1902
enroute from New York to Jamaica. The anchor was recovered and restored in 1975.

Interesting blue "rays" rising up from the sunset.

Note the boat to the left of the sun dome.
Sunset as we get ready to leave for our night dive.
On the way to our night dive.

Sunset reflection in the window.
Monument where Christopher Columbus was believed to have landed in 1492.