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SAPPHIRE BEACH 2020
Sapphire Beach 2020
We were having a staycation here in St Thomas and we were actually STAYING at Sapphire Beach. It had been 10 long years since I was here last and I really wanted to see if my memory of the snorkeling was still the same. I have revisited my previous pictures from 10 years ago, but as time goes by, so do the memories.
So this page will be a compilation of all the days we spent at Sapphire beach during our stay.
So, off we went to claim our spot under the grape trees. Fighting for prime real estate with the iguana's would be a daily chore. Also, if you are not out on the beach claiming your spot by...around 6-7am, sometimes you don't get the best view, but we always managed to find the best shade.
I asked Sakari if she was ready to head out and she put on the mermaid tail and off we went.
After awhile, I asked Sakari if she wanted to head back in and she said yes. Once we got back, Kam was waiting at the shoreline with me "mamaw, will you swim with me? mamaw, will you swim with me? mamaw, will you swim with me?" "Good grief child, let me catch my breath for a minute I heard you the first time and the second and every time after that." I figure if I tell her this enough times, she'll stop repeating herself. We shall see.
Well, it's hard to say no to a granddaughter who I just taught to swim a week prior to vacation and she wanted to test out her skills in the ocean. After explaining to her that it's not the same as being in her pool...there are waves that can carry you out, the depth changes quickly and you can be over your head fast, and every other thing I could think of that would make her comprehend that this is not her pool and she is to stay really close to me is what I ended up saying to her.
She was scared to death of the fish in the water once she managed to poke her head under and see all the fish that she couldn't tell was there when she was standing up. OH NO! We will not have her turn out like her dad who usually won't step more than knee deep in the ocean because he's afraid of fish and anything else that might be lurking under there. Humans are not fish food...well, unless you happen to be a damsel. Then humans are pretty tasty if you get close enough.
We would spend quite some time searching for "sea glass" and pretty little shells at the shoreline after she got used to the fish around her and knew they were interesting to look at.
I was really happy when I managed to find 2 pieces of green seaglass. SCORE! It rained a little here and there and I just chalked it up to that sporadic Caribbean showers you get all the time.
Meanwhile, Sakari was starring at the trees and I got out to see if she had found some scaly critters lurking above our chairs. Yep, she sure did. There were about 5 iguana's above us and a few on the beach.
Since she is the animal whisperer, I handed her a camera and let her put a few of them in a trance while she got really close to them to snap some pictures for me. I knew the minute I tried to get anywhere near them, they would give the signal and retreat. If the mere thought of me getting close to them didn't scare them away, then the sight would of my hee-ho, limp, grunt, hobble all the way over to the tree would.
A few final thoughts on the snorkeling. These are just my thoughts and experiences. I remember Sapphire Beach (back in 2010) to be the most awesome snorkeling ever. I remember the fish, the coral, the fun we had. However, after visiting many other places in the Caribbean, and also after visiting Coki beach, I started to question if Sapphire really was as good as I was remembering it from years ago. Just my opinion, but it doesn't compare to Coki with the various colorful corals or variety and it certainly didn't compare to other places I've been to in the Caribbean that are simply AH-MAY-ZING! (Like St Lucia for instance)
So why did I remember it as a great snorkeling place from before? I honestly think a lot that had to do with it was that it had been the first time I had been snorkeling in over 21 years. So, it really amazed me to see all the fish and corals. It was also my husbands first time being in the ocean and snorkeling so it was so exciting at the time. But now that I would call myself somewhat of an "expert" in snorkeling and have been many many places, I would call the snorkeling here ok to mediocre. There were a lot of rocks with smaller damsels, tangs and so on there. A few nice corals here and there and I was overly excited when I found an orange looking coral. But, it just doesn't compare to the purple coral you will see at Coki. Is it worth a day to visit? Of course! It's not like you aren't going to see anything...it's just that it's not on my "top" list of snorkeling places after today. You also can't beat the beautiful beach and all the grape trees and palms to sit under. More on this later....
The kids wanted to go to the pool for some fun (but this is only offered for guests staying here at the property and there is a security guard that walks around making sure you belong here, so this part is only if you are looking to stay at the resorts and get an idea for what it is like here) and we gathered our things and walked via the beach to the pool area. You can tell that this area was hit by the hurricane (I assume) and they never rebuilt or opened up the bar that was there or repaired the roof, electrical or anything. But hey, we came for the pool so it didn't really matter to us. I'm kinda glad there isn't a bar there because if there was, that area would be a lot more crowded than it ever was during the times we were there.
The kids had fun playing in the pool and I got my water therapy in for the day that's for sure.
Although there are signs posted not to jump off the walls or planters at the pool, very rarely did you see an adult or child that followed those rules. My kid and grandson would give me heart palpitations every time they jumped or flipped off the top to the bottom and no matter how many times I'd yell, they'd catch me off guard and do it again. At one point, Billy did his back flip as well.
One of the days I decided I was going to head out on an adventure...all by myself, just trying to buy some time before the crew woke up. I wanted to explore a little on the other side of Sapphire (by the condo's over there-Crystal Cove) and also take some pictures. So, off I went...on my own, armed with my camera.
Another day of snorkeling at Sapphire...
Meanwhile, the hubs was entertaining himself with Iggy and the girls were actually on the beach with their mermaid tails on. I hope they didn't stay out there too long...their gills will dry out!
Kendra and I continued on. We went out further than I had been out the other day and further over toward the pool area. Ok, I will admit, the snorkeling got a lot better the further out we went. So, I can take back my previous statement of it being "ok" and say that it's at least a lot better than "ok". There is still a lot of rocks and not a lot of various fish (mainly the same fish you would see at most beaches), but we did come across a school of tangs and that was exciting for me. I absolutely get excited when I see a large group of them. They are so beautiful and peacefully glide through the water.
We decided to head back in and check on the family. I was satisfied with everything I was able to see this time around and glad that the snorkeling was better than the other day. I still wouldn't say it was fabulous, but definitely good enough.
Me, Kendra, Sam, Sakari and little miss repeat all decided we wanted to go for a walk down the beach (toward the other condo's I went down toward this morning). The boys (Billy and B) didn't want to take part in this adventure and decided they would just hang out. B had brought his laptop with him and was watching Fortnite videos and was just too into it to walk with us, plus he's super lazy and said it was "just too much walking" for him. So, off we went. Of course more rain here and there and we would dart under a tree during the "sprinkle" only to emerge and see a rainbow!
When we got to the end "Kendra" decided we would keep going. "Going where??? The beach is pretty much ending". She replied "Ahhh, we will follow the water and see what we can find". Oh just great. Watching Fortnite with B was sounding a little more promising then this adventure she was about to take us on.
At this point, the beach was pretty much ending and there was a lot of ironshore rocks along the edges of the water. There was a lot of stepping over things, holding on to the hubby for dear life on rocks that were slippery, stepping over palms trees and wondering if any of the people who lived in the houses there with their signs saying private property were going to come out and tell us "get off my lawn"...only it wasn't a lawn. It was a very interesting and a very long walk...especially for someone like me. We made it pretty far and things were only getting worse. I finally put my foot down, well...not really because that would probably hurt if I stomped it...and said "I'm turning back! We are to a point where it's not safe at all for me to walk and it's also starting to get dark with a long walk ahead of us back and over all the things we crossed. You see, I had discovered that it gets dark around a little after 6pm and that is why I'm so darn tired and ready for bed by 9-10pm. Back home, it was't getting dark until around 9pm or a little after. I wasn't taking any chances on the sundown game tonight because I knew we'd be left in the dark trying to figure out which spot was the best spot to try to put my foot down.
Then on the way back, Sakari spotted an anemone right at the shore line. It was a very strange place for it to be and the waves going in and out would cover it over and over, then rinse it off. I'm really shocking we didn't step on it on the way down. Kambriah "What is that? What is that? What is that?"
There were a bunch of kayaks by the beach and one was down by the water and the waves was pulling it out. Sakari decided to be a good samaritan and go save it and pull it all the way up where the others were located at. I can't believe they just left it down there. I'm not even sure if the surf shop is open still. I never did see anyone there or it open and I would think they would somehow lock these things up at the end of the day. But, they were always just left out everywhere.
Sakari all of a sudden screamed with excitement! She pointed at the tree...it was the game that she played on another island (I think St Croix) and she absolutely LOVED it and the challenge. There's a hook on the tree and then a ring attached to a string and you have to swing it and try to hook the ring on the hook on the tree. She tried and tried and just couldn't get it. The wind was not on her side!
We kept walking past the condo and of course...headed toward the pool where we would find Brayden swimming.
I continued to take pictures of the sunset bouncing off the clouds and the palm trees. We would end up going out on the little pathway by the pool that took you out to some rocks, crashing waves and water on both sides. They use this area for weddings. It's very lovely and made for a great photo shoot, which I happened to see at least 2 weddings while we were there and the photographer out there taking pictures. I do have to say that the ground is really rough. There's a lot of sharp rocks, dirt (not sand like you would think) and just not a pleasant walk if you are barefooted. (I did see a groom and bride out there barefooted for their wedding). Me, being so self foot conscious, couldn't imagine how they managed to walk it and not throw out a few "ouchies" along the way.
It wasn't too long before Sakari discovered what we were doing and headed down to us....RUNNING!!! With her bare feet. Yikes! Ouchie!
She offered to take some photo's for us. It's super nice to capture those special moments to cherish places you have been together, however, I am very reluctant to share any photo's of me in them. I'm very self conscious about my weight these days. I have gained so much since last year after my accident and being bed ridden, in a wheelchair and still not being able to walk much and can't be too active. I've never been so big in my life and although I can't help it at this point, it's still not a pretty site to me and embarrassing. :(
I ended up taking some pictures of Sakari in different poses. She was having fun.
Then as quickly as she came...she was off again...RUNNING AGAIN!
IF YOU COLLECT SEAT GLASS:
Yet another day, I decided I was going to take a walk on the side of the condo's by the pool. I hadn't really been down this way passed the pool. I headed down to the rocky gravel seashell area by the water. This side of the beach is all rocky and the waves are a little more prominent. It's not really a swimming area but the second week we were here I did see an entire family in there snorkeling. I don't think I would have felt comfortable snorkeling in there (or even making it out there passed all the rocks) and definitely wouldn't have wanted my child in there (they were younger than Sakari). But, I'm sure there's probably good snorkeling there.
I figured this would be an excellent place to look for shells and neat pieces. To my surprise, it was SEA GLASS HEAVEN!!!! I swear this must be the place where all sea glass comes to live. There's was tons of it. You just had to look closely in the sea of shells and rocks. I was SUPER excited that not only were there green ones, but I started finding DARK BLUE one's as well. I think I had read that the blue are somewhat rare. I also found some VERY light blue one's and I'll have to look those up. There wasn't many but on the STT fb boards, someone brought up sea glass and said that the light blue one's are possibly from the stopper top to old cologne or perfume bottles? Then I also found the normal green, some darker green (like a seafoam green), 2 colors of brown, white and some odd pink looking glass. I was so excited with my finds. My hands were full and I headed back to show Sakari and Kendra my pot of gold. Immediately they both went out looking for more and Kendra was getting pretty serious about it and would sit down in one spot and dig and then move on to the next. LOL
I found a really neat something-or-other that had washed up on the shore. Sakari wanted me to take a macro shot of it.
