After putting bags in storage we took a bus to Shute Harbor where we took a ferry to Hook Island, renowned for good snorkeling. We camped next to the beach at the Hook Island Resort, a kind of rundown hotel with a swimming pool. It was just the right style for us. As soon as we could, we donned our sexy lycra full-body stinger suits that protected us from the sun and jellyfish (none of which we ever saw). We then jumped into the water and got to see many exciting different fish.

Fortunately Jason bought a fish book to help us identify what we were seeing. Henceforth we spent a great deal of time pouring over the book trying to figure out what we had seen. There were lots of wrasses (moon wrasses were my favorite), long pipe-like fish with orange noses, beautiful butterfly fish, and some large, chomping parrotfish. Pat and Angie were nearly immediately greeted by a sea turtle on their first trip out.

We spent part of the day lounging and went for another snorkel that afternoon, adding many fish to our experience and seeing new corals as well. We had a nice dinner and then hung out next to the pool talking. After a while we decided to start reading The Return of the King out loud, which was a nice ending before bed.