Susan Solo – Photographer | Traveler | Adventurer

Tag: tours

Snorkeling With Tortuga Divers

After getting a taste for Grand Cayman snorkeling in our own backyard at the villa and on our jet ski tour, we decided to squeeze in one last adventure on our remaining full day on the island by booking a snorkeling trip with Tortuga Divers. As luck would have it, there were two spots open on the trip for Friday afternoon. Yay!

We met the dive boat at Tortuga’s dive shop in East End, only a few minutes from where we were staying. At $25 each, this was easily the best value of anything we did/ate/purchased on the island all week. The fee included a 2+ hour trip out to Sunset Reef (the location is chosen on a daily basis depending on the weather), snorkel equipment, and a few refreshments on board. It’s also worth mentioning that the entire Tortuga staff in the dive shop and aboard the boat were all so incredibly friendly.

Our captain, Dave, took our group out to the reef which was maybe a 10-minute boat ride from the dive shop. I think there were about a dozen or so divers and snorkelers total – a small Resort Dive class and a few of us snorkelers. This was the first time I had ever been on a dive boat so I don’t have anything to compare, but it seemed clean and well-organized/equipped. Chris and I chose to sit topside for the breathtaking view. I can definitely attest to how awesome the crew was – they offered us drinks, helped me on and off the boat, and even spotted and pointed out some huge eagle rays along the way. Safety was notably their number one concern, but they also made sure we were all set to have a really great time.

Once we moored near the reef, Captain Dave gave the snorkelers a safety briefing and an overview of the area including what we could expect to see and where we should plan to swim. (The Resort Dive class was on the deck below, doing their own briefing, and they entered the water first.) When I saw where we would be heading, I was a little nervous because we’d be swimming ~~hundreds of miles~~ kind of far from the boat and I had never done that before! But I was mostly excited to push the envelope of my comfort zone, and guess what? It was so incredibly gorgeous underwater that I didn’t even care how far I was from the boat.

We saw lots of healthy colorful coral, sponges, butterflyfish, tangs, sergeant majors, surgeonfish, schoolmasters, wrasses, rainbow parrotfish, and a teeny tiny jellyfish. I’m still working on my underwater photography skills, especially since when I dive down I’m immediately sucked back to the top due to my fantastic buoyancy, but we did get a few shots. I found a striped trumpetfish, and Chris chased after a huge angelfish and got some great photos. I was also shooting with my GoPro Hero 2 and didn’t realize it can’t focus underwater with the housing I have, so sadly dozens of photos from this trip are unusable. Thankfully we had the S95 for these shots:

If we’re ever able to get back to Grand Cayman we’d absolutely snorkel (or dive?!) again with Tortuga Divers! I highly recommend it for everyone – families, couples, solo travelers, and even ocean scaredycats.

May 28, 2014
Jet Ski Tour With Fat Fish Adventures

Fat Fish Adventures gets consistently great reviews on TripAdvisor, and now I know why! Our jet ski safari with them was one of the brightest highlights of our trip to Grand Cayman, and an experience we’ll never forget! (Note: The watercrafts were Sea-Doos, to be exact. The Fat Fish website says “Jet Ski Tour,” so for the purposes of this post I’ll sometimes say “jet ski.”)

But as I mentioned in my Grand Cayman post, I was ~~a little scared~~ terrified of doing this excursion. I consider myself a fairly brave person in general, except when it comes to anything related to creatures – bugs, spiders, and certain fish. (I’m totally okay with reptiles oddly enough.) After reading reviews that said the waves were huge including a few accounts of riders flipping over, I kept imagining falling off of the jet ski into the water where I’d immediately be surrounded by all of my worst sea creature fears.

That totally didn’t happen.

Not only were the jet skis safe out on the open water, they handled well and I had so much fun on the waves! Yes, the ocean waves are a bit more choppy than the sound side of Florida where I had my first jet ski/WaveRunner experience, but I wasn’t remarkably sore the next day. And you really have to be goofing off to flip the thing over. Let me start from the beginning though – I’m going to go into a lot of detail simply because I had several questions I couldn’t find the answers to when I was researching this tour like, Do we wear flip-flops or water shoes while riding? Will my sunglasses fall off? Is there a chance I might be attacked by the one stingray who isn’t tourist-friendly? Is it easy to get back on the jet ski from the water? and I wanted to answer all of those things here (no, maybe, it didn’t seem likely, and sort of).

Since Chris and I were staying in East End with a rental car, the Fat Fish shuttle met us at a designated spot near George Town and we followed them to the dock where we’d get on the skis. The free shuttle service had already picked up the other people in our group from their respective hotels. At the dock, we were each fitted for snorkel gear and life vests, and were given a brief overview of how to drive the Sea-Doos (which is fairly easy).

Each Sea-Doo had two compartments for storing stuff – one larger one that held our snorkel gear, and one smaller one where we stashed our camera while we were riding. We all left our shoes at the dock and rode barefoot. Chris and I both wore sunglasses in attempt to keep the water from spraying us in the eyes (and it worked until we were going 50 mph on some of the bigger waves), but we tucked them into the small compartment while snorkeling. If your eyes are super sensitive or if you wear contacts, wearing a pair of goggles might be helpful. Our sunglasses stayed on our heads while riding, but obviously if you hit the waves hard enough they can fall off.

Chris and I shared a jet ski for a total of $175, and that worked out well for us. There were seven other people in our group for a total of nine people plus our tour guide, Jordan, who was awesome. He was patient with the slower riders, but also gave enough freedom to those in the pack who wanted to take things at a faster pace. And just to squash any similar fears like I had, I never felt as if I would become lost at sea. (Is that not something you were worried about? Maybe I just have an overactive imagination). We could always see Jordan or at least another rider, and more importantly I could always see land no matter where I was on the tour. We were several miles out but I could still see the shoreline, so it’s not like any scene from Open Water. And the Sea-Doos were in great condition, although one rider’s jet ski did stop working toward the end of the tour so he had to hop on with Jordan for the return trip.

We left the dock and rode along the shoreline towards the mangroves where we entered and navigated slowly through the narrow waterways. To be honest I was still a little freaked out at this point, so if Jordan was giving us any background on the mangroves I didn’t hear him. Once we were back out in the open water, Chris cranked up the speed and we headed toward Starfish Point. As you can imagine, the further we were from the shore, the bigger the waves became. I held onto Chris for dear life for the first few minutes, but I eventually loosened my grip a little, trusting in my driver’s skills. Chris and I had already visited Starfish Point the previous day since we were close by, but this is a great way to see the fascinating little creatures (just please don’t pick them up out of the water!) especially if you’re staying in George Town. We spent maybe 10-15 minutes there.

After Starfish Point, we headed to Stingray City where upon arrival we instantly saw several huge, dark shadows gracefully gliding through the water below. I squealed like a banshee in poor Chris’s ear out of combined excitement and nervousness. The sandbar was flanked on one side by several different tour operators, various boats and groups of jet skis, but we still had our own little spot in which to interact with the stingrays away from the crowds. We hopped into the water and were surrounded by dozens upon dozens of rays, all gently swarming around the tourists begging to be fed bits of squid. Jordan brought food for us to feed the rays, and also gave us the opportunity to pet or hold a particular stingray if anyone wanted to do so (I opted to pet, not to hold). Mostly I just tried not to step on one, and we made several attempts at getting photo/video. The rays do brush up against your legs, but it’s sweet and not creepy, although I did squeal again.

Our last stop included a short time at a snorkeling site near Rum Point. I’m pretty sure the spot is called Coral Gardens and our time there could have been longer, but it was incredibly fun for the 15-20 minutes that we were given. I don’t know if they always stop at the same place, but this spot was about 15 feet deep, clear water with healthy coral. I didn’t get to take many pictures, but we did see parrot fish, sergeant majors, tangs, wrasses, and other juvenile fish. My understanding is that the afternoon/1pm tour allows for more time at each stop (plus a stop at at a bar & restaurant in Rum Point, pictured below – we went there another time on our own) and we had actually originally booked that tour, but we had to reschedule for a morning tour on another day due to Chris coming down with a case of food poisoning. Fat Fish’s customer-service was outstanding – not only were they able to accommodate us on another tour, they sent emails expressing concern for Chris and offered him well-wishes to get better! Oh and side-note, getting on and off the jet ski is easy enough at each of the spots – I did have to muster up some upper-body strength to climb back on at the snorkel spot where my feet didn’t touch the bottom of the water. If you’re worried about being able to pull yourself up, you could always ride with a partner so you’ll have help.

And just for some additional visual support, here’s a video of our Grand Cayman trip where a good portion of it shows our time on the Fat Fish tour. If you have any questions about any of it, please feel free to comment below or send me an email. I’d be happy to help!

Grand Cayman 2014 from Susan Marks on Vimeo.

May 21, 2014
Milan 2004

Sub-title: The time I spent a day wandering around Milan, Italy by myself.

As promised, I have a couple of photos to post from my day trip to Milan that I’ve finally scanned from film. While Chris and I were staying in Lugano, Switzerland, I signed up for a day-trip bus tour that went across the border to Italy. Chris had to work that day, but I figured it would be safe enough to go by myself since I’d also be accompanied by a bus full of tourists and a guide who could keep an eye on us. It was only about an hour-long ride into the heart of Milan, and the tour stops included Sforza Castle, the Monumental Cemetery, and the Duomo Cathedral. Oh, and when I say “tour,” I actually mean we were dropped off at each of these spots and given time to wander around on our own. So much for safety in numbers! But I did enjoy the freedom of seeing whatever I wanted at my own pace.

The cathedral was certainly one of the most impressive parts of the tour. The architecture is just mesmerizing. I made my way to the top and took one of my most favorite photos ever by holding my camera up high and over the ledge into the street below, and hoping for the best. There was no LCD on my 35mm film camera! 🙂

The piazza was fantastic for people-watching. I had some fun interactions with the locals using my broken Level 1 Italian, and also some not-so-fun moments. See all of the pigeons in the photos below? Apparently some tourists think it’s super fun to have their photo taken with the birds, so there are vendors (?) milling about who give you corn to feed the birds and then volunteer to take a photo for you in return for a small tip. I had no interest in a pigeon photo, but this guy kept insisting (in Italian) that I must have one. He grabbed my hand and put corn in it, while also trying to take my camera out of my other hand. Thankfully I had the neck strap over my head like a ~~true tourist~~ safety-conscious photographer and he was not able to get the camera away from me. He probably meant well and just wanted a few Euros in exchange for the photo op, but I couldn’t be too sure. And I don’t easily separate from my camera! So I shared some polite/nervous laughter and politely refused the photo. Oh, and did I mention I had about two-dozen pigeons on my arms and shoulders and surrounding my feet at this point? Yeah. Pigeons like corn. A lot. So there were quite a few birds that accosted me, and there was quite a bit of arm-flailing on my part, all while trying not to let a random Italian dude take my camera from me. Rather than a photo, I wish I had video of that whole scene because I’m sure it’s pretty hilarious.

In order to calm my nerves after the Pigeon Incident of 2004, I walked around some of the streets of Milan surrounding Piazza del Duomo. There were some amazing couture boutiques as well as really cute street vendor carts. I didn’t buy anything except for lunch in a nearby cafe, but I always just enjoy my photos as souvenirs. (Okay, actually I do regret not buying some designer shoes or a handbag – come on, it’s MILAN.)

One of the last stops of the day was the Sforza Castle, where I had the privilege of seeing Michelangelo’s Rondanini Pietà, the last sculpture that he worked on in the last days of his life. We weren’t really supposed to take photos (I’m not sure if this rule is still current or not?) but I did snap one careful image when no one else was around. Side note: I’m assuming light from the flash is the main reason photos aren’t allowed, so I’ll just mention that I took a very quick photo without flash and without interrupting anyone else’s viewing experience.

Milan was absolutely stunning, but I know it’s just a small slice of Italy, so I can’t wait to go back some day and travel the whole country. And with Chris this time of course!

January 24, 2014
Dog Sledding on Mendenhall Glacier (via Helicopter!)

I’m not sure what the best part of this afternoon in Juneau was – landing on a glacier after a thrilling helicopter ride with stunning views, dog-sledding on the glacier, or snuggling with the puppies at base camp. All of it was simply awesome. I admit that this trip with Alaska Icefield Expeditions was a bit of a splurge, but it was totally worth the amazing experience. Note: we booked through Celebrity, but in hindsight, it’s probably just as easy and maybe cheaper to book directly with the tour rather than through the cruise.

Our excursion started with a short van ride through Juneau to get to the helipad. After we were outfitted for waterproof boots (they fit over our shoes), we boarded a helicopter and enjoyed a 15-minute flight to the glacier. Watching the tongue of Mendenhall come into view is something I’ll never forget. I can’t believe people in Juneau have that view on a daily basis. And landing on the glacier was even more special! I kept saying, “We’re ON a glacier!” It’s not every day that we get to stand on one, much less go dog sledding. The noise was also quite memorable – the dogs were so excited! Our musher gave us a bit of history on the camp and introduced us to the dogs, who were all incredibly sweet. At first I wondered if it was at all the tiniest bit cruel to make a team of dogs haul me around in the snow, but they seemed to really (really really) love sledding. The faster, the better. When we stopped, we could tell they were disappointed not to be running.

After several laps around camp, we were treated to time with the youngest up-and-coming members of the sledding team – the puppies. They were napping, but we were given the opportunity to hold a warm and sleepy pup. If it looks like I wanted to stuff that puppy in my jacket to sneak him back onto the helicopter, it’s because I totally wanted to do it.

July 6, 2011
Ziplining with Alaska Canopy Adventures

One of my favorite highlights on our trip to Alaska was the rainforest canopy tour with Alaska Canopy Adventures. We booked this excursion outside of Celebrity, and decided to do the Ultimate Canopy & Zipline Expedition in Juneau since it worked best with our schedule. At the time of booking, this tour was $179 per person, and the tour lasted a little over three hours. It was super easy to book and the customer service was outstanding. I had a few questions before booking and I received prompt, helpful answers. The tour was on time as well, which was critical since we had another excursion planned later in the afternoon.

We met a boat at the dock near where our ship was in port and we crossed the water to land on Douglas Island. Once we arrived at the base camp, we were outfitted with harnesses, helmets, and gloves, not only for safety, but also for looking awesome.

All of the equipment was in great condition, and there were several staff members to help get all of us harnessed up. A van ride up the mountain took us to the beginning of the zipline series, and during the ride we were treated to the history of the area and breathtaking views of the island.

The first zipline was a short, practice line close to the ground where we learned how to ride and most importantly, how to brake. There was a bit of timing involved – we just had to brake a few yards from the end of the line so we didn’t slam into the guide waiting to catch us. It wasn’t difficult to learn though. And our guides were so much fun – they were hilarious, but also very safety-conscious and they made sure we were always having fun and feeling comfortable. At the time of our tour, photography was permitted, but I only took photos while on the platforms and not during an actual zipline. I didn’t trust myself to hold tight onto the camera AND be able to break on time. It’s better just to enjoy the ride anyway!

In addition to the ten ziplines, we had fun on these swingy suspension bridges, high up in the air. Don’t worry, you’re carabinered into the system and it’s very safe. And it was a nice opportunity to really look around at the lush rainforest canopy surrounding us. How about a fairly unflattering photo of me standing on the bridge? Here you go!

Our guide offered photos at a different angle in which he jumped over the side of the bridge and suspended himself alongside us. Nerves of steel! And that just shows how much you can trust the harnesses.

At the end of the tour, we rappelled down off of the last platform, which was so fun! I went first even though I had never rappelled before so I didn’t know what to do. It was a little eerie sitting down over the edge of the platform just into the air, but once I felt the harness catch and support me, I had a blast scooting through the air down the line.

We were awarded medals for completing the course, which I am ~~dorkily~~ proudly wearing here with our awesome guides.

I highly recommend Alaska Canopy Adventures if you’re planning to visit Juneau! We had such a fun time with them and would love to do it again sometime.

July 5, 2011