Today was our first full day on Ambergris Caye. After we woke up, we decided to head down to the dive shop and sign up for a dive today. We got our equipment and headed for our assigned boat. There was one other couple on the dive with us from upstate New York. They had been diving for quite a few years but their last dive was over a year ago.

As we headed out, we noticed the wind had picked up a little bit. Going through the large gap in the reef here is not usually too bad, but today large waves came right at us and we inched through with our small boat rocking violently. The dive site was near the opening and we braced the tossing boat to roll in. The divemaster had chosen a relatively easy dive due to the other couples last dive date having been a while back. Turiano, our divemaster, was thorough in their briefing and always made, sure we were all safe. But honestly, after our last one a couple days ago for the Lionfish Derby, this dive seemed tame (as a nice way to put it.) We saw an array of colorful fish and I will admit I feel kinda bad that I’ve gotten so accustomed to their beauty that I feel a little dismissive of it. After our dive, we went back to the pier. We opted not to do another dive today with the rough conditions and the less than thrilling first dive.

We changed and headed for the golf cart to do some exploring. After being on Caye Caulker, San Pedro feels akin to Manhattan, something we seem to have forgotten since last year. There is still a laid back island vibe here but it absolutely doesn’t apply to driving. Golf carts are the primary mode of transportation here with automobiles (mostly as taxis) being fairly common also. Add to that the scores of people riding bikes and walking (with no sidewalks), and it’s enough to make me hold the side bar of the golf cart with knuckles as white as cotton. The roads are very bumpy and have giant speed bumps as well, it would seem that these certainly serve to keep everyone alert, whether drivers, bikers, or pedestrians. We went across the bridge to the north end and drove until the paved road ended. We stopped at a small beach bar way out at the end of a pier. The view is stunning out there. The food was pretty good with portions so large we couldn’t finish it (which isn’t common here as it is in the states). We passed scores of resorts and condo complexes with even more under construction. The north end of San Pedro is steadily growing and now has its own variety of restaurants and even a few stores, which is a good thing for anyone staying over here since there is a golf cart toll on the bridge each way.

We passed through town again and headed south. The south tip is pretty well developed but not quite as busy or congested as San Pedro Town. There are homes, stores, roadside stands, and a resort here and there. Finally, the road led us back to Ramon’s to spend some time reading and relaxing on the beach. When dinner time came, we decided on a place we’d seen on the north end. After dinner with views of the sunset on the west side, we returned to the hotel to find live music at the open air restaurant. We sat in lounge chairs by the pool and talked with a couple from Lake Charles, Louisiana. We wandered up and down the pier for a while and talked about our day.

We are adjusting to the faster pace and different way of doing things here. I have to remind myself sometimes when I go from one place to another that just because things are done differently, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re done wrong. Ambergris Caye is a beautiful place, and with so much to offer, I’m excited to find out what it holds for us.