Summer critter updates

We’ve been having a pretty epic summer, between seeing great friends both above and below water, getting a few trips down south to the untouched places like Space Mountain, Long Bow and Do It Again; our old standbys like Krispy Kreme, Sponge Gardens, and Bull Run; and even the Gingerbread Grounds! Sometimes summer squalls kept us close to home, but we were only rewarded with amazing animal encounters in our Bahamas backyard. Check out this video (https://youtu.be/sXYTQuwdz8s) of a curious Female Loggerhead Sea Turtle shot by Kat just a week ago, doesn’t get much better than that, does it?

While we’ve noticed fewer nudibranchs and octopus lately, the vertebrate diversity is as stunning as ever. Crew and passengers alike are finding species they’ve never seen before on an almost weekly basis. These those critters were found just a week apart: one a juvenile version of a deep sea Short Big Eye (found by Lyndsey), normally only seen below 300 feet as an adult, but hangs out in the shallows as a young’un. The other an as-yet-unidentified hamlet hybrid, we’re thinking Barred and Shy, what do you think?

Juliet’s Upcoming Facelift
As many of you already know, Juliet is going dry for her every-other-year maintenance period this October. We can’t wait to show you the new stainless steel rails, chainplates, and to (hopefully!) be rid of the rust streaks on the nice green hull from the old toe-rail for at least a little while! We’re sure you’re worried about her looking not her best lately, but soon enough she’ll be painted and shiny and looking fabulous again. Thanks to everyone for your patience and tolerance with her looks during this pre-haul-out time!

South Bound!
After haul-out we have one last Bahamas trip before heading south for the winter (It snuck up on us too!) A few weeks in Puerto Rico and Mona Island, then on to St. Croix – but with a few trips in St. Thomas and BVIs to kick off January a little differently. We’re pretty full except for a few spots over Christmas, but it’s not too early to start looking at next winter if you’re hoping for a St. Croix getaway.

Hope you’re having an amazing end-of-Summer, and are as excited for Fall as we are!