Glass Bottom Boats, Anyone?
On my second day in Tobago, Nas, Charysse and I found ourselves with no plans. But ever the socially connected one, Nas’ phone was soon erupting with offers of invites to parties and “limes,” including a mini excursion on a glass-bottom boat.
Now I’d always heard that the waters surrounding the Tobagonian coastline are peerless. The island paradise is famous for its crystalline waters. And even though the sky was a bit overcast, I was down. We all were. Soon we were off to meet our party at Store Bay.
The Prettiest Boat in the Water
Store Bay comprises a selection of small food shacks, bars, and crafts vendors near a park area next to a beach. Here, you can find glass bottom boat operators and arrange an outing. Our party had already done the legwork before we arrived. We were simply waiting for our boat to pull up so we could board and be off.
Of all the little boats in the water, I can honestly tell you I was delighted when I saw ours— the Tobago Pleasure Girl. Awash in fun, vibrant colors, she was easily the prettiest vessel in the water (perfect for amazing photos on your Instagram feed)! One member of our group rounded us up and gave instructions—she seemed to know a lot about how this was done. Turned out, she was Tobago Pleasure Girl‘s owner and the tour operator. No wonder such care and thought went into painting her trusty watercraft. Women have an eye for such things, you know.
Obviously, she takes her business seriously, and this was also evident in her careful instructions about how to board the boat. These came in handy as we wrangled with some impertinent waves that challenged us as we attempted to embark. Ill-timing could have caused us and our belongings to be submerged, but most of us got through without getting soaked. There were two other crew members there who assisted us as well.
Once aboard, the drinking and fun began. Of course, we brought our own stash, and Tobago Pleasure Girl supplied the music. Carefree vibes commingled with cool sea breezes as we cut across the aquamarine waters of this tiny tropical utopia.
The Places You’ll Go!
After about 20 minutes or so of travel, we reached the reef. One of the crew members proved to be an extremely knowledgeable tour guide. He gave us oodles of information on the coral and the fish that live there. I was just delighted to see a healthy reef. Given warming ocean temperatures, pollution, and other man-made disturbances, they are dying in much of the rest of the world. A few folks jumped overboard to do some snorkeling. I took pictures and enjoyed the view all around me.
From the reef, we went out to a place in Buccoo called the Nylon Pool, where the water is about waist deep. The sand, fine like powder, presented the perfect opportunity to exfoliate your skin in the salt water. We all took advantage of it, shedding layers of skin, and perhaps all our worries (if only for a little bit), letting them slip away into the healing waters. Some people brought floats, some just danced and frolicked in the surf. I massaged the sand into my skin like it was the last exfoliation treatment I would have on earth! A few pics and drinks later, we were back on the boat and off to a place called No Man’s Land.
Despite its rather ominous sounding name, No Man’s Land is basically a lagoon, where the sand is dark like silt and very fine. The sand was even finer there than it was at Buccoo, so I immediately began sloughing off what was left of my epidermis (thankfully the sun was not very strong that day). There were other people there who arrived on glass-bottom boats, too. They said they saw us in the water; we looked like we were having so much fun, they wished they were on our boat with us. Hey, it’s just how we do.
Fun Times With Friends
I wish we could have stayed longer, but it was time for us to get back to Store Bay. Naturally, the Tobago Pleasure Girl had other customers waiting to experience her sweetness. I’d definitely recommend a voyage if you’re in or planning a trip to Tobago—especially if you’re looking to have a great time with friends old and new.
