EXUMAS - 1998

April

"The Cat Ppalu"
http://www.blackbeard-cruises.com/catppalu.html

The Group:
Doug & Leeann LaTour, Randy Salisbury, Tom Webb, Richard Brown, Barbara Pietuch,
David Bremner, Cheryl Peterman, Bill & Michelle Oskowski and Karen & Jeff Manross

After our initial trip in November of 1996 we decided to book another trip for Spring of 1998, we reserved the Cat Ppalu from April 25 thru May 3 of 1998. When we chartered the boat for this trip we decided not to make this a dive-dive-dive trip - we wanted to go see and do the things we heard about when we were on the boat in November. Mark informed us that the harbor master in Nassau purchases wounded sea turtles from the natives on the island and nurses them back to health to release back into the wild.  They had a large wounded female which was  recovering very well and was ready to lay eggs. Mark (knowing about our desire for something different) informed us about the turtle and asked if we would like to release her. We replied with a BIG "OF COURSE". This would mean a long and tiring (10 hour boat ride) to the Exumas Land and Sea Park, but a great cause. Releasing a 60 year old 200 pound turtle back into the wild was well worth it.  We named her Barbara!

Bill and Michelle stroll along the beach


 45' humpback whale skeleton washed ashore

O' Mighty Orb!

"Saving the Turtle"

The turtle was wrapped in an old bed sheet to protect her from the sun, she was then placed on her
back so she could breathe without having to lift her shell.

Salt water had to be sprayed on the eyes constantly to avoid them from drying out and blinding her.

The turtle was covered with a fishing net which made it much easier for us to lift her into the skiff for releasing her.

With the turtle loaded we headed for shore to release her back to the wild.

"Underwater"

Feather Duster

Queen Angel

Carribean Lobster

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