Travel - International Indian

Travelexposed, low, long sandbar. After anchoringthe boat a few hundred yards away, he makes acell-phone call, leaving us in solitude.We walk hand-in-hand soaking in the sun.We pick up starfish the size of basketballs.Looking up, we’re stunned to see that thebottoms of the clouds overhead are actuallytinted turquoise from the reflection of theAllan and Kelly Watson of Toronto, Canada, pose with a hugestarfish the first mate pulled from the sea bottom during an ExumaCays excursion with Four C’s Adventures headed by Capt.Andrew Clarke. First Mate P.J. put the starfish back after guestsshot their pictures. The tour highlight is swimming with pigs(Photo by: Kathy M. Newbern)water below.Another day, we join an excursion withDive Exuma, the island’s only PADI five-stardive operation (www.dive-exuma.com). Wesnorkel over one of several “blue holes” here,then go to a cave where scores of fish gatherin a cool current that moves up from below.We come across a large stingray that we followand videotape for several minutes. Next stopis Fowl Cay where the ocean rushes into theharbor, attracting an abundance of sea life.Unforgettable is the Four C’s AdventuresExuma Cays Tour (www.exumawatertours.com). Captain Andrew Clarke and first mateP.J., the owner’s son, revel in showing off theirbackyard in the day-long boat trek to and fromStaniel Cay.We cruise alongside private islands ownedby celebrities like country music megastarsTim McGraw and Faith Hill, and DavidCopperfield’s celeb-haven Musha Cay that goesfor US$37,500 per day for the whole island.Actor Nicholas Cage’s undeveloped islandnearby is reportedly for sale for $6 million.We don’t go far enough this trip to see theisland Johnny Depp bought after falling in lovewith The Exumas while filming “Pirates of theCaribbean.”Our group hops off the boat to a smallsandbar that’s emerged at tide’s retreat. Weswim, then collect shells and sand dollars. P.J.explains the differences between two nativekinds of conch, a key ingredient on local menusoffering conch salad, conch fritters and the like.At Sampson Cay, we get our first glimpseof one of the hottest local attractions: theswimming pigs.Though the pigs won us over, the jewel ofthe day is Thunderball Grotto where all aboardsplash in next to a rock-faced island to snorkel.At certain spots along its base, smallopenings offer access into a large cave inside.Rain has eroded the craggy rock ceiling toform several openings to the sky, allowing raysof sunlight in, piercing the water, creatinga shimmering light show in the blue below.Snorkelers are rewarded by the fish bonanzainside and out and spot eagle rays and a smallreef shark.We see why this location was chosenfor parts of two James Bond 007 movies“Thunderball” and “Never Say Never Again.”Several photos of the 1964 “Thunderball” castare displayed at Staniel Cay Yacht Club wherewe stop for lunch.Captain Andrew has one more treat on theway back: land iguanas at Bitter Guana Cay.Like the pigs, when these reptiles hear boatSandals Emerald Bay boasts the largest pool in the Caribbean,which is perched alongside picture-perfect ocean water on a crescentshaped,white, sandy beach. The largest resort on Exuma, it covers500-acres, is all-inclusive and for adults only. There are a widevariety of activities, from golf, tennis and watersports to its ownsignature spa (Photo Courtesy of Sandals)motors, they scramble from the bushes androcks across the sand in search of a handout.Some are three-feet long and several havelearned to jump for food, but we watch P.J. first‘‘Nearlyeveryonewho hasdiscoveredthis offthe-radardestinationwoulddiscourageusfromtelling therest ofthe worldabout it,but thispiece ofparadiseis toogood notto share.‘‘CMYCMMYCYCMYK36The International Indian