Nov. 6, 2013--Wed.:

Time to check out of Bluebeards and head back to the East side.  It was our last full day on the island.  Depression was beginning to sink in just thinking about that!  Took a couple last pictures of Bluebeard's Beach.

 Another view of Bluebeard's Beach from the check in/out building.  The far right side of the beach (more good snorkeling) with the Marriott behind the next bay. 

 The road to the resort is a mess, but they were actually working on it when we were leaving.

 some of the pretty flowers around the area.

For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to hit up Sapphire beach and Smith's again.  Hindsight, it probably would have been better to snorkel at Bluebeard's and Cowpet (by the Elysian) again---the winds and surf had shifted.  It was a bit rough at Sapphire and somewhat murky.  But we swam all the way out to the reef where it was clearer.

 some of the healthy coral out by the point

 not a good picture of this guy, but he left an impression.  He kept darting out at me as if to chase me away.  I also found his coloring unusual.  Looks like the fish that are usually yellow, black and white, but he had a definite blue tint to him.  I've been told this is a male Sergeant Major and he's guarding "his" eggs.  What a family man!

 Also saw this blue trumpet fish out there.  They're usually brownish and/or yellow.

 Looking back towards shore from the reef area---note the splashing of the waves on the rocks.

 topography at the reef

 more of the healthy reef

 and some more.

 Our porcupine puffer friend peaking out to say hello.

 lots of Elkhorn coral with schools or fish hanging out at them.

more reef topography.

 a normal colored trumpet fish, not sure why he's lying on the ground like that!

 schools of blue stripe snapper

 shallow reef

 school of surgeonfish

The sky, clouds and water were looking especially pretty when we got out.

 Looking out from Sapphire beach towards the many islands off shore there. 

 zoomed in view of the point by the snorkeling area.

 We thought the closest island was named Shark island, but apparently that's just a name Angie made up.

 From there, we decided to pick up a sandwich from the food truck up the street from Sapphire and had a pic nic at Smith's Beach.  We got pulled pork sandwiches and it was very good.   From our pic nic table at Smith's, we watched a couple snorkelers.  The lifeguards weren't too happy with them going past the buoys.   I don't remember the lifeguards caring the other day when we were there. 

 to the far left past the buoys is another nice reef which I had hoped to check out more thoroughly today, but the sand was really churned up so we just swam a bit inside the buoys, then left.

 You can actually see the parking area in this picture.  It was great being that close to the beach.  

We went back to our resort from here and started packing.  Then shared a pizza and salad from Sangria's---both were very good.  That's also when we noticed how clear and calm the waters were there at the Elysian.  I guess the direction of the surf had changed and we didn't realize it before we went to Sapphire and Smith's.