Experience the untouched wonder of the Galápagos, an adventure you’ll not soon forget. Straddling the equator off the coast of Ecuador is an enchanted archipelago with some of the strangest wildlife on the planet. Roughly half the size of Hawaii but with barely enough residents to fill Yankee Stadium, the Galápagos Islands are a biological … Continue reading Exploring the Enchanted Isles of Galápagos
With outstanding programs in marine biology, two University of Miami campuses have become focal points for environmental studies. From its humble beginnings in 1925, the University of Miami’s Coral Gables campus has weathered many storms, both natural and manmade, and has come out on the other side as a major institution for higher learning. Respected … Continue reading Eyes on U: Keep an eye on UMiami’s Marine Biology Programs
Thirty years dedicated to sea turtle research in The Bahamas has led to sharing that passion with younger generations. Unique encounters with marine life can turn a fun dive into an unforgettable experience, and there’s little that beats the privilege of gliding alongside a sea turtle—other than running into a shark. If divers revel in these up … Continue reading Saving Sea Turtles
Predicting the exact dates the cherry trees will blossom in Washington is a challenge for even professional prognosticators, but an early bloom seems likely this year. The last time we saw an El Niño with this much influence on temperatures was in 1997 and 1998 when the blooms peaked the last week of March. According … Continue reading Cherry blossom time along the Potomac
Hurricane season is upon us again, but summer and early fall are great times to cruise in The Bahamas as long as you have a good hurricane strategy. (Southern Boating readers know they need a hurricane strategy any time they’re in the hurricane zone no matter where they’re cruising.) If you look carefully at the … Continue reading Hurricane Season in The Bahamas
The sea bird nesting season begins when white-tailed tropicbirds arrive in Conception Island around the end of February, but it really heats up later in the spring and summer. Many of the outlying cays in Conception Island and northern San Salvador are completely protected beginning April 1st. The breeding season lasts until the end of … Continue reading Our feathered sea bird friends nesting in central and Southeast Bahamas
The Gulf of Mexico is a true tropical sea and one of the deepest bodies of water in the world. From the height of a cruise ship, one might not notice that the electric blue expanse is teaming with life from aquatic animals such as giant Kemp-Ridley turtles and recently discovered 55-foot-long Baleen whales. Stirred … Continue reading Texas’ Flower Garden Banks
Charlotte Harbor on Florida’s Gulf Coast will have you planning a return trip before you even leave. Everyone loves a great comeback story. Celebrating with others who triumph over defeat is innate, and that is exactly what the residents of Punta Gorda and the surrounding Gulf Islands share since Hurricane Charley ripped through Charlotte Harbor … Continue reading Port Charlotte, Florida
One Destination, Two Islands, Three Experiences There are a certain amount of bragging rights that go along with long-distance cruising. However, not all boat owners have the desire or capability—boat size, fuel capacity, budget, vacation time—to cross the Atlantic or island-hop the Caribbean. Luckily, less than 50 miles from Miami lie the two islands that … Continue reading Bimini Weekend
It’s UnBelizeable! There is a lengthy list of sensible reasons why Belize belongs on the must-do list when it comes to Caribbean cruising. First, a two-hour flight from the United States to Belize City makes it easy to travel to, English is the official language and it is one of the most affordable destinations in … Continue reading Belize, It’s UnBelizeable!
