Foto: The coral reef near Belize (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Belize - After breakfast, I head to one of the docks for a snorkeling trip. Steve hands me flippers and a mask. I board a sailboat. As we head out to sea, I’m struck by how crystal-clear the water is. The weather is beautiful today, with some clouds in the sky but no sign of rain. Steve motors the boat to the coral area. Off the coast of Belize lies the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, said to be the second-largest coral reef in the world. At the first stop, Steve throws some food into the water, and schools of fish instantly appear. I’m especially fascinated by the nurse sharks—harmless fish about one and a half meters long. I put on my snorkel gear and jump in. Underwater, I see a stunning array of fish. The sharks are impressive, as are the stingrays. Steve grabs a nurse shark and signals me to come closer. Do I want to feel it? Though I hesitate to disturb nature, I also can’t resist the opportunity. I touch its skin—it feels both rough and slippery. Next, he picks up a ray, and I gently touch that too. At the second stop, we find lots of conch shells. Fishermen often discard them as bycatch, and I already see coral forming on the shells. I float with the current, enjoying the underwater beauty. Suddenly, a giant sea turtle swims by, passing within meters of me. I follow it. The turtle glides calmly through the water, occasionally glancing back as if checking whether I’m still there. At the third and final stop, we snorkel over coral. Steve leads the way and taps on the seabed with a shell. A green moray eel emerges from its hole, both beautiful and intimidating. At the end of the tour, another sea turtle appears, feeding on the bottom and occasionally surfacing for air. Back on board, lunch awaits—fish sandwiches and rum punch. The sail is raised, but there’s little wind, so we motor back slowly. I lie on the front deck, enjoying occasional refills of punch.
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