Kayak Snorkeling St Pete Beach
by Kurt Zuelsdorf
The intimidating Southwesterly winds weakened this week and allowed us/me a first time kayak trip into the Gulf Of Mexico from St Pete Beach. The slow rollers created a gentle cradle sway to the kayak as we paddled the crystal-clear waters just beyond the swim zone. A tropical wave washed over me. Being offshore looking back at the beach, it just exemplifies Florida to me.
Approaching the rock jetty of Blind Pass the bustle and scurry of the city life dropped away. Water so clear that fifteen feet looks like five. Colorful growth on the old rocks popped in the sunlight and the plants, reaching like fingers toward the surface wave a gentle hello to the kids whose eyes, smiles and laughter erupt! “This is sooooo cool, OMG look at all the fish!” OMG is right! This jetty has been a source of habitat for marine life since the 60’s. The inside lagoon is as tropical as any island habitat in Florida and perhaps beyond. The outside shelf is deeper, more mysterious and houses a Jewfish as big as a Volkswagon, but that’s a different story. If it sounds like I’m exaggerating it’s likely because my senses have been cleansed by sea, sand and water in my mouth, nose, ears and I feel….intoxicated!
Sometimes the first face dip of a snorkel trip can be intimidating. Too many trips into dark murky water with noisy grunts and large shadows darting off the corners of my goggles I suppose. But here it’s not the case. As soon as the first flush of salt water floods the snorkel tube the 4ft lagoon becomes unpopulated by anything but small fish! Millions of them too, darting in and around you.
Underwater communication is oddly understandable through a snorkel tube. For example, everybody stuff a napkin in your mouth and talk at the same time. Throw in a loud squeal of excitement and lots of questions like “What’s that. Come over here. Holy cow!” and you’ll get the practice you need for such a trip. It’s hard though to condition, practice and prepare yourself to having your goggles kicked off by the kids. Or the “flailing” arm-punch in the gut, a backhand in the ribs, or the little divers that come up too fast and like a torpedo slam into your hull nearly knocking the wind from your lungs.
After the brief “cage-match” with the kids I broke away and drifted into the darting school of fish. I floated lazily, quietly and watched the dizzying swirl of fish that surrounded me. They bumped into my goggles and acted much like my cat when a stranger comes into the house….confused, scared, dodging and spinning not knowing where to hide or to go next. Then I got a tickle from behind. Thinking it was one of the kids I ignored it and remained still. Then again. I turned but nobody was there. Then again and again. By now I’m spinning in circles to catch a glimpse of who or what was tickling my back.
The sounds of laughter are the best universal language!
The kids were all lined up behind me laughing and choking on water! “Hey! The minnows are getting stuck in your back hair! Do it again, do it again!” For the fish I imagine it was like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride at Disney – each daring the other to go try the big ride with all the spooky growth. Oh well…
I saw this ad on TV recently where spas are offering a treatment that involved soaking your feet in a fish tank and letting the fish nibble on your toes! If that’s the case, a kayak trip into the soothing warm water, a touch of sun and a whole bunch of feeling good is just what the doctor ordered!
July 21st, 2009 at 10:53 am
Another great photo of the fishes at the beach, the color is beautiful. I love floating and those fish jumping all over you. It is so much fun. The clouds are interesting by the jetty.