Exploring Pigeon Creek

Barracuda caught while trolling off Pandion. We always release these due to potential for ciguatera. 

Sailing south along the western shore of Cat Island from Orange Creek, we dropped anchor in Bennett's Harbor. A small, very quiet settlement.

After reviewing the charts of the local tidal creek system, we took Newt through a series of channels and flats that led to Pigeon Creek.

Beautiful views. Spotted eagle rays gliding beneath the dinghy.  Dozens of juvenile sea turtles darting through the crystal clear waters.

Abandoned sloop in the shallows of Bennett's Creek. 

Pigeon Creek. We spent the day exploring this incredible place, and never encountered anyone else.

Navigating a dinghy through a maze of mangrove lined tidal creeks can be a lot of fun. You just have to have the tide with you (we did) and patience. We eventually found our way to the pass that led to Exuma Sound, running with the outgoing tide and taking the dinghy back to our anchorage.

Newt anchored at Pigeon Creek Pass, after navigating through the maze of tidal creeks from Bennett's Harbor. 

The next day we explored the small village, watching a class of Bahamian students snorkeling on a nearby coral reef.

This was part of the Young Marine Explorers, an environmental education program based on Cat Island that engages Bahamian youth in environmental conservation (see www.ymebahamas.org for more details). 

In our experience, this is one of the most powerful ways to promote behavioral change towards conservation of natural resources: by engaging youth. Great to see!

Young Marine Explorers van. 

YME students snorkeling along the reef at Bennett's Harbor.