"Swimming with the Fishies"

Anthony was very excited about the idea of swimming with the fishies on our trip.  We called it that because every time I used the word "snorkel", he responded by snorting.

  The resort had a small artificial snorkeling reef, about the size of a backyard swimming pool.  Anthony didn't really like the snorkel mask, one picture was tops.  Then we tried to take him in the snorkel pool without a mask.  FAILURE!  Turns out he was absolutely terrified of the fish.  We had long conversations with the lifeguard on duty about what fish eat (lettuce, small pieces of shrimp) and what they don't eat (people of any size).  He was also reassured that there were no sharks or octopusses in their pool.  Irregardless, he was unwilling to get in.

  Bob and I had already decided that he wasn't invited on our sail/snorkel expedition.  While the snorkeling wasn't as great as in Playa del Carmen a few years ago, it was still a lot of fun.  We saw two juvenile sea turtles and an octopus.  Bob got to hold the octopus (tako to sushi lovers) and I got to touch him.  While he struggled and inked up a storm while the guide was catching him, he sure held on tight.

   The bottom picture is Bob holding a sea anenomae, one of the few you can pick up.