Silly question time again ?
Having been on numerous glass bottom boat trips in the Med and dissapointed on almost all of them.
can someone please tell me if you can actually see anything thru the glass ? The previous trips I have had the misfortune to waste my money on went so fast all you could see was bubbles and the occasional bit of seaweed etc but no fish or anything that resembled one.
And also can stay on the boat if you dont snorkel or get off at Little Tobago as we will probably end up taking my 82yr old future mother in law on it with us (coming to see us get married)
Regards
Glass bottomed boats
-
Steve Wooler
- myTobago Editor & Chief Anorak
- Posts: 4856
- Joined: Sun Apr 21, 2002 11:00 pm
- Location: Suffolk, England
- Contact:
Hi Warren
I know what you mean. Having snorkelled on Buccoo Reef back in the 50s, when the reef was one of the wonders of the world, everything else has paled into insignificance. Hopefully others who have taken glass bottom boat trips more recently will be able to provide more helpful comment than mine, but I think it obviously varies from reef to reef and very much depends upon the age and condition of the boat. Most reports I’ve heard have been reasonably positive though.
The tours to Little Tobago are always popular and I would suggest that you use Frank’s Tours as they get regular positive comment in the forum. Frank’s are one of the two glass bottom boat operators based in the grounds of the Blue Waters Inn. Yes, your mother-in-law will be able to stay on the boat while everyone is snorkelling.
I know what you mean. Having snorkelled on Buccoo Reef back in the 50s, when the reef was one of the wonders of the world, everything else has paled into insignificance. Hopefully others who have taken glass bottom boat trips more recently will be able to provide more helpful comment than mine, but I think it obviously varies from reef to reef and very much depends upon the age and condition of the boat. Most reports I’ve heard have been reasonably positive though.
The tours to Little Tobago are always popular and I would suggest that you use Frank’s Tours as they get regular positive comment in the forum. Frank’s are one of the two glass bottom boat operators based in the grounds of the Blue Waters Inn. Yes, your mother-in-law will be able to stay on the boat while everyone is snorkelling.
Steve Wooler
myTobago.info - the definitive Visitor Guide to Tobago
myTobago.info - the definitive Visitor Guide to Tobago
-
Allan + Maria
Hi Warren,
I was slightly cynical about the benefits of glass bottom boats from past experience in the Med like you - until I went to Tobago end March/beg April this year, and then changed my mind! We went on 3 such trips, one over Buccoo Reef and two to Little Tobago. For the latter trips we used Franks boats as per Steve's posting and can recommend them. The boat actually stops over Angel reef on the way and the guide on board gives everyone on board a "spotter" card with the most common fish pictured on it, to help you as he points out the fish through the bottom. You will see all sorts of sizes and colours and also numerous types of coral. We also stopped just before we got to Little Tobago over one of the largest brain corals in the world, and again, you can see this all very clearly through the bottom without getting in the water! However the highlight for us happened to be just as we were about to dock back at the Blue Waters Inn when we happened to pass over a turtle on the bottom. Allan quickly jumped in with snorkel and managed to have a swim with it when it came to the surface a few minutes later! It didn't seem at all bothered by his presence. We also spotted another larger turtle on the surface further out between the islands. See our posting a bit lower down under "Goat Island, Little Tobago and St Giles" for details of the trip which can be tailor-made. But your mother will be fine on board whilst you snorkel, as long as she doesn't get seasick or takes a pill, as it can be a bit turbulent some days between the islands! Have a wonderful time! Maria
I was slightly cynical about the benefits of glass bottom boats from past experience in the Med like you - until I went to Tobago end March/beg April this year, and then changed my mind! We went on 3 such trips, one over Buccoo Reef and two to Little Tobago. For the latter trips we used Franks boats as per Steve's posting and can recommend them. The boat actually stops over Angel reef on the way and the guide on board gives everyone on board a "spotter" card with the most common fish pictured on it, to help you as he points out the fish through the bottom. You will see all sorts of sizes and colours and also numerous types of coral. We also stopped just before we got to Little Tobago over one of the largest brain corals in the world, and again, you can see this all very clearly through the bottom without getting in the water! However the highlight for us happened to be just as we were about to dock back at the Blue Waters Inn when we happened to pass over a turtle on the bottom. Allan quickly jumped in with snorkel and managed to have a swim with it when it came to the surface a few minutes later! It didn't seem at all bothered by his presence. We also spotted another larger turtle on the surface further out between the islands. See our posting a bit lower down under "Goat Island, Little Tobago and St Giles" for details of the trip which can be tailor-made. But your mother will be fine on board whilst you snorkel, as long as she doesn't get seasick or takes a pill, as it can be a bit turbulent some days between the islands! Have a wonderful time! Maria
-
Miranda Lubbock
Glass-bottomed boat trip
Dear Warren,
My husband and I did a glass-bottomed boat trip from Blue Waters Inn in January of this year. We enjoyed the trip overall, but as for seeing fish, I could count them on the fingers of one hand. The principal attraction seems to be the coral, not the fish, and there is certainly plenty of the former. Being a coral philistine, I'm afraid that once I'd seen one bit, I'd seen it all. I cannot say I would really recommend it if your sole aim is to see fish. However, after the trip we stopped for a drink at the Blue Waters and that was enjoyable. Our boat trip was a small part of a journey round the whole island with a taxi driver guide (who took us from the Coco Reef Hotel where we were staying, up the east coast to Blue Waters, then up to Charlotteville and back down the west coast. There were other, far better highlights ... We did stay on the boat (some people got off to hike up a rather steep looking hill) and I guess the round trip was around 40 minutes or so. I should also add that, the day we went, the water was quite lumpy, and if you are not a good sailor, there might be a tendency to queasiness. Certainly one other person on the boat (out of 10 of us) admitted that it had been touch and go! This is particularly prevalent, of course, in a flat-bottomed boat which tends to ride around a lot, and it then doesn't help if you are starting at the glass as the boat tips about! I hope this helps.
My husband and I did a glass-bottomed boat trip from Blue Waters Inn in January of this year. We enjoyed the trip overall, but as for seeing fish, I could count them on the fingers of one hand. The principal attraction seems to be the coral, not the fish, and there is certainly plenty of the former. Being a coral philistine, I'm afraid that once I'd seen one bit, I'd seen it all. I cannot say I would really recommend it if your sole aim is to see fish. However, after the trip we stopped for a drink at the Blue Waters and that was enjoyable. Our boat trip was a small part of a journey round the whole island with a taxi driver guide (who took us from the Coco Reef Hotel where we were staying, up the east coast to Blue Waters, then up to Charlotteville and back down the west coast. There were other, far better highlights ... We did stay on the boat (some people got off to hike up a rather steep looking hill) and I guess the round trip was around 40 minutes or so. I should also add that, the day we went, the water was quite lumpy, and if you are not a good sailor, there might be a tendency to queasiness. Certainly one other person on the boat (out of 10 of us) admitted that it had been touch and go! This is particularly prevalent, of course, in a flat-bottomed boat which tends to ride around a lot, and it then doesn't help if you are starting at the glass as the boat tips about! I hope this helps.
-
Warren B
Hi all again
Sounds like you have good and not so good everywhere then !
Thanks for the info, I understand that the reefs are somewhat depleted due to whatever reason, but which is the best to see or are they both different on their own merits ? I understand the bird watching possibilities for little tobago and the merits of going to the Polo bar after Buccoo reef oh and swimming in the nylon pool (does it work), perhaps if I left my future wife in their for a week I could marry an 18yr old in the second week of the holiday !! ?
many thanks
Sounds like you have good and not so good everywhere then !
Thanks for the info, I understand that the reefs are somewhat depleted due to whatever reason, but which is the best to see or are they both different on their own merits ? I understand the bird watching possibilities for little tobago and the merits of going to the Polo bar after Buccoo reef oh and swimming in the nylon pool (does it work), perhaps if I left my future wife in their for a week I could marry an 18yr old in the second week of the holiday !! ?
many thanks
-
Jill Wooler
- myTobago Editor & Chief Anorak
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2003 6:00 pm
- Location: Bures, Suffolk, England
- Contact:
Hi Warren
About the Reefs. As you guessed, both of the reefs are different on their own merits. Different sea conditions on different days mean that you see different fish.
I'm glad that you think that you can still handle an 18yr. old!
Jill. myTobago.info
About the Reefs. As you guessed, both of the reefs are different on their own merits. Different sea conditions on different days mean that you see different fish.
I'm glad that you think that you can still handle an 18yr. old!
Jill. myTobago.info
Jill Wooler
www.myTobago.info
www.myTobago.info
-
Warren B
but I'm very happy with my lady she'e wonderful and I'm sure she wished she was again 