Utila – Week 7, Day 5: Tiny Voyagers
UTILA
Week 7
Day 5: Tiny Voyagers
December 29, 2022
Whilst Amelia was away on the morning boat, I was kinda ruing the day I had decided to get a tattoo. After three days of unending rainfall, I would’ve killed to be on the boat with her for a dive. But since it was still fresh, I had to sit it out for a couple of days longer at the very least.
I spent a few minutes running around with Honey and Ziggy as they wreaked havoc on Underwater Vision and an unsuspecting stranger’s pair of shoes. Then, wanting to be productive, I decided to get on with some much-needed planning. Having extended my stay in Utila for so long, I had to make some serious adjustments to my itinerary. My initial plan was to cover all the countries in Central America. With Honduras being my fifth country, I still had plenty to go – Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
While I had most of it already figured out, I still had no idea what to do with the remaining three months. Initially, I was thinking of visiting a few Caribbean islands, say Jamaica and Cuba. Now, after spending so much time around the Caribbean, I felt like I wanted a change. Plus, I’d get to visit this paradise again some other time and keep it fresh. And so, I set my mind on a new destination…
After Panama, I’d be flying off elsewhere – the first flight I’d be taking after travelling all over Central America on land. I also pre-booked a few activities – my bank account giving one dying squeal as I nearly emptied it out. So much money – gone, just like that. But this is the kind of spending I like. Priceless memories, you know?
The Turtle Treasure
Financially spent, I decided to have a nap. A nap from which I was woken up way too soon by something strong tugging at my leg. In my sleepy stupor I turned around to find Dr Marius, who, without an explanation, demanded I go with him somewhere. With Amelia away on the afternoon boat as well, we’d be going alone on his motorbike. Where, I didn’t know, but he promised it’d be good. And so, I went along, still half asleep, half annoyed.
We drove down a familiar road – one that took us to a beach near Pumpkin Hill. The first thing we saw was a crowd huddling around something. We made our way into the throng and, right at the centre, was a lady with a basin. Inside were dozens of tiny, helplessly cute turtles waiting to be released into the Caribbean! I swear, I could’ve made love to Marius at that moment. How can someone be so thoughtful?! I apologised for snapping at him after he woke me, hugged him, and then approached the basin with as much awe and wonder as you would a chest of gold.
They were so, so cute! Forty-seven two-day-old hawksbill turtles, ready to brave the seas for their very first swim. The same lady explained that unfortunately only about 3% would survive. She also said these were all male, with sex determined by the temperature of their nests. One easy way to remember is that “girls are hot and guys are cool”. After her explanation, we all stood by a sandy patch they had cleared, and, with the basin tilted towards the ground, the tiny critters suddenly scampered towards the shore.
It was crazy seeing all of them racing down the slope, clumsy but, in a way, kinda fast. Once they reached the shore, each and every one of them was carried away by the waves into the horizon. I wonder how many of them have lived to see another day… Probably not the one chased by the massive cowfish. Who knows?
Stay wild,
Marius
Post-Scriptum
Amelia’s reaction to the photos was just heart-wrenching. Watching a turtle release has been on her bucket list ever since she was a kid and she had missed her chance!