I've arranged for our group to take a boat out to some small Caribbean islands just off the north coast of Venezuela, one of the best places to snorkel or dive according to my guidebook. We dive at a spot called 'Las Burbujas' (The Bubbles) where small bubbles rise out of the volcanic rocks on the sea bed. As I'm waiting for the dive master to help me go down I realise he's forgotten I don't yet have my diving certificate and have no idea what I'm doing. A slight sense of panic sets in.
Only a few metres under water I can already see a range of beautiful corals including masses of brain coral covered in technicolour Christmas tree worms. The colours are incredible, spanning all the colours of the rainbow. More ominous is a huge well-camouflaged stone fish and a moray eel. In my hurry to move away from the stone fish I cut my foot on some coral which throbs and itches for days afterwards.
Although the water is crystal clear, the islands are hot and arid, almost desert-like, affording very little shade apart from the odd cactus plant.
On the way back to the coast we stop off at an island entirely covered in plastic bags and bottles which we affectionately name 'Garbage Island'.
(Photo - 'Garbage Island')
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