myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

I'd like those of you who have spent time in C'ville to help me. We want to hire a boat to take us as near to Lover's Bay as is possible, and stay there while we snorkel for an hour or so. Does anyone know of a reliable fisherman (or whatever) to take us? Also, how much should we offer the boatman for the trip? Does anyone have a contact phone number for a suitable person?

Paul Tallet--If you're reading this thread, please chime in & let us know how far a swim it is from Cotton Bay to Lover's Bay & whether it's feasable to get a boat close enough for us to snorkle over. Both Dick & I are strong swimmers. I know you did it with a kayak, but it doesn't look like there's going to be a kayaking operation up & going by the time we get there in February.

We really want to snorkle Lover's Bay, as I've heard how great an experience it is. Please advise!!

Joanne

There are a number of fishermen in the village who offer a water taxi service to the various small beaches inside man o War bay. You won't find it hard to arrange something just by walking along the beach and asking around. If you would like to do something more organised you can contact Curtis Aming at workshop seatours who may be able to assist you. There is also now a glassbottom boat which makes the occasional apearance in C'ville.

In terms of kayaking in C'ville, Mike, the new owner re-opened the Kayak business early december 2006. He has just had to leave the island for a trip to the USA and will return soon but i can assure you that kayaking is still available under the supervision of Peter who is managing the business in Mike's abscense.

If you fairly fit and active outdoor types then kayaking is probably going to be the best option for you. whichever you choose i'm sure you'll love C'ville, it is the jewel in the crown.

Good Luck and have fun in Tobago.

Joanne Green wrote: let us know how far a swim it is from Cotton Bay to Lover's Bay & whether it's feasable to get a boat close enough for us to snorkle over. Both Dick & I are strong swimmers.
We really want to snorkle Lover's Bay, as I've heard how great an experience it is. Please advise!!

Hi Joanne

If you're referring to Cotton Bay (aka Celery Bay), which is due North of Moriah, then it would be a hell of a way to swim, even for a strong swimmer.
See the map of the upper Caribbean here - http://www.mytobago.info/beaches03.php Charlotteville is just off of the top end of the map.
Based on the the text below the map, it would be at least 6 or 7 miles from Cotton Bay to Lovers Bay.

Both bays are accessable by boat - Lovers Bay from C'ville, as Carib Stu suggests and Cotton Bay can either be incorporated into a sea tour from one of the main operators (see list of Tour Guides in Out and About), or negotiate a deal with one of the fishemen on Castara beach.

Last time we hired a boat we did a deal for $TT120 for a couple of hours, but it all depends on who is available.

Good snorkeling at both venues, so you won't be disapointed.

Cheers
Steve

Thanks to both Caribstu & Steve for their replies!!

Caribstu-- Do you have a contact number for Peter who does the kayaks?

Steve-- thanks for correcting me on the placement of the 2 bays. If you contract with a local boatman to take you snorkeling, do you run the risk of havin him just go off & leave you stranded? Please advise. That's why I'd like to have the name of someone who is known to be honest & reliable.

Joanne

Hi Joanne

On several occasions we have used local boatmen (more often fishermen) to take us to places like No Man's Land (Buccoo), Cotton Bay etc.

Usually, unless we want to stay for several hours, we agree that the boatman will stay for the trip, or that we stay with the boat if we are snorkelling.

Mostly all of the fishermen are reliable and wouldn't forget to pick you up again - just don't set your watch by them. If they are half an hour late, don't panic - you're on Tobago time. We often suggest a pick-up time half an hour before we want to leave to compensate .

Best to discuss with your ride where you want to go and what you want him to do - leave you or stay. He'll suggest a price and then take it from there. A handshake will seal the deal.

Most of the guys will be OK for you to pay when they pick you up for the return journey and this might give you the peace of mind that he'll remember to pick you up.

You could ask around for Eldon (aka Rusty) or Owen (aka Anaconda) if you are in Castara. The fisherman's co-op on the main beach is the place to hitch a ride.

Cheers
Steve

PS Don't expect luxuries life jackets and VHF radios if you hire a fisherman and his pirogue, but you will get a beaming smile and an exhilarating ride.

Hi Steve--
Thanks for the info. What is the snorkeling like at Cotton Bay & No Man's Land? How long a boat ride is it to Bucco? Those aren't usually listed on the snorkeling sites.

Do you or any of our devoted readers know of a local boatman up at C'ville that is reliable?

Joanne

Hi Joanne

Perhaps I should have made it clearer, that we used to go to No-Man's land for fishing, rather than snorkelling.

Although the spit of land is in the Bon Accord lagoon and part of the Buccoo reef marine park, so no fishing now, the water is generally shallow and not always clear, so as a snorkelling venue it is pretty c**p.

I don't know if you are aware, but if you scroll all the way back up to the top of this page, where you made your first post and place your cursor over 'Out & About' in the header bar, a drop-down should appear.
At the top of the list is 'Activities'. Move the cursor down to cover the word and another drop-down list should appear, with Snorkelling just up from the bottom - with your cursor now over the word, a whole range of options appear including Snorkelling sites, Snorkelling Tours and Snorkelling reviews.
These will give you much more info than I can post here and hopefully will answer your questions.

As far as a reliable boatman based in C'ville goes - Son Son has quite a good reputation - see a previous thread on contacting him, here-
http://www.mytobago.info/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3963

Cheers
Steve

Hi Joanne

Sorry for the late reply.

It is possible to swim to Lovers Bay. It is quite a long way from Charlottesville (about a mile) and I would definitely not do it unless you are a supremely confident swimmer.

As you approach Lovers Bay you need to be careful, particularly at low tide, because the corals are very close to the sea surface ... there are channels to swim through.

Another option is to get to Hermitage Bay from the new road and swim from there (slightly shorter distance).

I would recommend you ask someone to take you there that knows it well.

I once took a boat trip from Castara with King David's crew and they waited around Booby Island (i.e.; the boat could not go close because of the coral) while I swam to Lovers Bay from there ... that would seem a good option to me.

Look out for the inquisitive Barracuda ... there are a few large ones around there.

Regards

Hello Paul --

It was good to hear from you. We didn't plan on swimming all the way from C'ville!! We just wanted to know how far a swim it is from the closest point to the reef that a boat could take us! Please advise.

How long a boat ride was it with David from Castara?

Any info you can give will be appreciated. We will be in Kingfish at the Naturalist for 8 nights in February.

Joanne

Hi Joanne

The boat trip between Castara and Charlottsville is about an hour each way and you can stop at other bays along the way.

The boat can sit waiting for you in deeper water between Booby Island and Lovers Bay, it is a very short swim but you need to negotiate round channels between the coral.

Lovers Bay beach is not the main attraction ... it is a very small beach and backed by a sheer cliff ... the special part is the snorkelling around the Bay and all round Booby Island.

As with everywhere else, alot of coral is damaged or whitened but there are some beautiful spots. I saw, morays, several barracuda, a black angel fish and huge parrot fish.

If you are having a beach barbecue on the trip, David will probably take you to Pirates Bay ... although I have heard the snorkelling is good there too I have tried twice and seen nothing because it gets rather cloudy underwater.

Snorkelling is also very good in the middle of the main Charlottesville beach if the water is clear.

Hope this helps ...

Regards