Feb 12, 2024

Bahamas to Puerto Rico

https://www.instagram.com/p/C1mZfnKu-i2/?igsh=dTA5ZnJraHhxOWZi

693 NM. 120 Hours.

As we waited in George Town, Bahamas for a good weather window to Puerto Rico, we realized “good” would not include comfortable. The best we could do was safe. WRI, our weather service indicated good winds the first few days, but 6 - 8’ seas on our beam. The forecast was accurate and we rolled for most of the passage. Our real excitement was the finale - the famous Mona Passage through the Puerto Rico Trench, the deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Mona Passage

Weather conditions were not ideal, but thankfully not treacherous. We had 10kt winds from the SE, with 7-8’ trailing waves. The current, wave direction and wind had the effect of being in a washing machine. We tumbled through the passage in about five hours, anchoring just after sunrise in the western seaside town of Puerto Real.

The Mona Passage (Spanish: Canal de la Mona) is a strait that separates the islands of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. The Mona Passage connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean Sea and is an important shipping route between the Atlantic and the Panama Canal. The Mona Passage is 80 miles (130 kilometers) long. It is fraught with variable tidal currents created by large islands on either side of it, and by sand banks that extend out from both coasts.

From: Mona Passage - Wikipedia

Puerto Rico Trench

The Puerto Rico Trench is the deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The islands of Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and the island group of the Virgin Islands are all identified on this three-dimensional bathymetric map, which displays depth.

from: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/puerto-rico-trench/

Catching up with friends

After a few days of housekeeping, we headed to Salinas on the south coast of PR to visit with our Canadian Urbanna friends, Judy and Kirk on Dugga Boy. We enjoyed dinners and laughs as we shared our past adventures since we last saw each other a year ago in George Town, Bahamas.

Old San Jaun

Sidney’s Car Rental was the fastest check in ever. Sidney took a picture of our driver’s license, gave us the keys, told us to leave the $60 per day in the glove compartment when we dropped off the car. “Do not worry about the tolls, the transponder will take care of them”.

We enjoyed a beautiful drive north, over the mountains from Salinas to Old San Jaun.

Vieques

Home to the Brightest Bioluminescent Bay in the World

Isla de Vieques, one of the offshore island municipalities of Puerto Rico, is located just 7 miles off the east coast. Vieques is one of the last destinations that truly remains like the Caribbean of the past: quiet, lush, uncrowded, with unmatched natural beauty.
Vieques is home to Mosquito Bay, the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world, and with dozens of undeveloped beach coves, one can experience the true meaning of tropical bliss. This small Puerto Rican treasure is also home to the largest natural wildlife refuge in the Caribbean.

From Vieques Puerto Rico Travel Guide - Attractions, Hotels, Beaches, Things to Do | Vieques

Bioluminescent Mosquito Bay

How cool was this! We took a night kayak tour into Mosquito Bay. Paddling through the bay, our oars and hands would light up the water producing the effect of waving a glow stick. The single cell Pyrodinium Bahamense, Dinoflagellates, when disturbed illuminate up to 100 times their size. During the day they capture sunlight through photosynthesis for use at night store to fend off predators. They can activate their “glow stick” six times during the night. After that they need to reenergize during daylight. A highlight was seeing larger fish swim through the water in a glowing stream.

From Mosquito Bioluminescent Bay | Vieques

Puerto Mosquito (Mosquito Bay) is located on the southern shore of the island of Vieques, one of the islands of Puerto Rico.  This bay is often referred to as “magical”, those blessed with the opportunity to experience it always agree.  The bioluminescent bay in Vieques was officially declared the brightest in the world by Guinness Book of World Records in 2008.  Hurricane Maria caused much destruction on the island, it sadly disrupted the delicate balance of the bay, the beloved Mosquito Bay went dark.  To everyone’s surprise the bioluminescent bay not only recovered, but it is also brighter than it ever was in the past.

The bio bay is best experienced during a “New Moon” phase. In the waters of Mosquito Bay, there are organisms named Pyrodinium bahamense, Dinoflagellates (dinos).  These “dinos” are responsible for this amazing natural phenomenon.  When the “dinos” come into contact with another organism or shaken they produce a bright burst of blue light.