Day 3 - Snorkelling with sharks on Belize's Barrier Reef, the second largest in the world! The next morning after having a huge shock as we were getting ready when Chika and Travis knocked our door, such a surprise and really good to see them, after making plans to have a drink with them later we set off for breakfast before our days adventure. Meeting everyone at the trip HQ we were kitted out with fins and snorkels and then it was off to the boat. Our captain for the day was Vanessa and she made us feel all at ease as she told us of the plans for the day. With 8 of us onboard our little boat skimmed across the water it wasn't the most comfortable ride and it was a relief when we reached our first stop Shark Alley. Vanessa gave us a quick safety briefing and then asked us why were we still on the boat get in the water! An incredible scene greeted you as you got your mask set and peered into the underworld. All around were big tuna like fish and sharks, these nurse sharks although we had been told were harmless and were more scared of us than we...... you know the rest. They have that shark look and as you see them feeding it gives one pause for thought. Our captain fully at ease in the water is by now feeding the dozen or so stingrays that are crowding around us it was awesome. Swimming in this scene is an amazing experience and made even more incredible by actually touching the stingray. The sensation was like touching jelly and I am still not sure if I liked it. None of us could believe how friendly they were though, they actually came up to us to be touched, just mad! This 'other world' of coral reef, sand, rocks and plants all of the previous brightly coloured at times with a huge variety of fish in all different shapes and sizes had a real impact on everyone that was on the trip. There was just so much to see; to try and take it all in was impossible and this was only our first port of call. Climbing back into the boat all were suitably impressed and enthused by the wondrous sensory experience we had just been through. Next stop was the Hol Cha Channel a big gaping hole in the middle of the reef where fish numbers and varieties are enormous. Without much hesitation we all got in the water and followed our guide on a tour around this reserve the huge number of fish being pointed out and identified with ease by our knowledgeable captain. The scene here is slightly different it's deeper darker in places and the current is stronger making the snorkel a harder workout. But none the less it was wonderful even though I can only remember 2 of the fish names. Next stop San Pedro on Ambergris Island for lunch and a rest being typical backpackers we had bought lunch and sat on the beach outside the restaurant we could have eaten, we had a filling lunch of ham and cheese sandwiches plus a few stray dogs hanging round - Tis the life! The white sand beaches and ocean scene is just staggering added greatly by indigenous ladies in bright coloured dress wandering along the beach at ease with all their wears balanced on their heads, how do they do that?!! Then it was back to work and our next stop where we had the remote chance of seeing Manatees - the sea cow. Diving in our captain pointed us in the rough direction we might see them and off we all went. Looking in every direction into the gloom neither Nik nor I saw any cow shaped objects; we pottered around taking in our surroundings, the bright orange striped fish on the corals, electric blue tiny fish that flashed like they carried disco spotlights, luminous colours, just incredible then slowly we moved towards the most likely area. Then we heard a shout and some of the others had seen something moving with the grace of ninjas we spluttered our way over and there it was this manatee! One of the oddest animals I have ever seen was slowly floating around towards our dutch friend Marten who was as bemused as the rest of us. After taking a good look at us humans, this thing decided to swim off leaving us all slightly dumbstruck. Hoping to see more of these strange primitive creatures we all swam around hoping to see it again. Then another shout and there it was all of us trying to keep still and take it all in. As we floated this thing started moving towards me now I am normally able to deal with most situations but this big herbivore swimming at me with a look of what I can only describe as curiosity mixed with possible hunger for human meat did somewhat perturb me. My backup as in my fiancé, girlfriend, right hand woman ie Nikki decided that this was all abit close and started moving very quickly away. Thanks darling! So there we are standoff at the OK Corral me and the sea cow mano a cowo - what do I do. Well what I did was move slowly backwards we had been told don't scare them or they may not come back to this area of the reef. Still this primeval beast kept coming until it was about 1-2 meters away, Nik said after that it looked like it was going to kiss me as we both floated motionless just staring at each other... By now I am giving it my best Clint Eastwood make my day moo creature pose also known as quite scared look well that was enough it backed off quite rightly so as well. So into the gloom it turned and headed off leaving us all and especially me abit stunned. But that wasn't the end of it as Nik and I headed back towards the boat there we are having a chat just floating around I had seen a grey shape to the left of us and thought it was a rock. However when we started to snorkel again with heads under the water we saw it was a manatee it had been so close to us and we didn't even know. Suitably impressed we made it back to the boat with the others it had been an incredible afternoon and we headed back to our cabana on the beach with big grins on our faces. That evening was lobster tail nite the washing machine drum sequel all the ingredients were bought and the excitement mounted even Steffi and Marten were going to cook sausages on our BBQ with some trepidation. They were heading out to the famous dive site of the Blue hole and didn't want food poisoning. To cut a long story short it took ages about 3 hours in total and by the end of it I for one was reasonably inebriated. Travis and Chika came by more booze was drunk, then a guy from Austria David came and joined us, I politely informed him he needed a haircut. Just making friends the good old anglo saxon way. The lobster and accompanying rice was spectacular all the more delicious because of how long it had taken. A great night and a great day. The next day saw us chilling and waiting also to see how Marten and Steffi had got on with their 5am start to go diving in the famous BLUE HOLE! It sounded incredible as Marten dived down deeper and deeper from ledge to ledge, he even saw turtles, wow! If only we had the money we would have been there......That eve being our dutch friends last night we headed out for 'civilised non washing machine drum' food at the Sports Bar on the beach which ended up a few jugs of beer/cocktails later in us all teaching each other random drinking games like 'whos the murderer?' and 'Spiders' we knew from our countries, a funny night was had by all! Guys thank you its been great fun!