Paradise Island is located on the North Coast of Dominican Republic between El Castillo de Isabela (close to Luperon) and the Haitian border at Manzanillo bay, just off the idyllic fishing village Punta Rusia and is the only coral island of the Dominican Republic, a perfect circle-round reef in the middle of the ocean with an inner sand-bank.

 

I snorkled around this reef for at least a couple of hours (and got badly sunburnt in the process) but what an amazing experience!!!!! I saw a lot of fish that I knew and a lot that I didn't know, the Corals were huge!!! and I nearly swallowed water and drowned on more than one ocassion whilst gasping in awe (goodness only knows what the Great Barrier reef is like)

 

I did buy a disposable underwater camera jobby and am waiting for the results from the nice people at my local Tesco photography centre but am not holding out too much hope from a disposable but you never know!!

 

Here's a few pics taken on my proper camera and a couple taken by a guy I befriended there(who e mailed them to me) he took them using an underwater case for his camera ....I did think of it myself before I went but at £250 for the waterproof casing I thought it was a little expensive....although on reflection, after what I saw on the reef it may have been a worthy investment...we shall see what the disposable one turned out.

 

 

Here is an airial shot of the Island, it's quite literally a small sandbank in the middle of the sea

 

we travelled to it by speedboat (a VERY uncomfortable ride on which I christened the boat the good ship Hemmroid ) each time you crashed down on a wave it was like someone hitting you under the chin with a sledgehammer!!!

 

 

Here was my first view if the island....I was amazed at how small it was ....just a couple of huts on the island where the snorkling equipment was stored

 

 

First thing was to feed the fish. I waded into the water with my Ham sarnie and the fish were around me like a menacing shoal of Pirahhnas...It was an amazing experience having them feed out of my hand

 

 

Some really were pretty big and one or two drew blood from my fingers as I fed them!!

 

 

 

I couldn't wait any longer and got kitted up to explore the reef..... what about the shorts????? ....I'm British and proud of it  

 

 

Here are a couple of the underwater pics that were e mailed to me....I will post the ones I took when I get them back tomorrow....this is where the guide let go of a fistfull of breadcrumbs. These 2 fish were the most popular by far and an I.D. would be most welcome. Could the Yellow and silver one be a Wrasse???? Your thoughts on a postcard please

 

 

 

 

 

Mr Puffypuff

 

 

 

After tearing me away from the reef we visited a vaste area of Mangroves. Naturally I had my NO3 kit on me (I carry it everywhere, doesn't every good fishkeeper?? ) and true to form the good old Mangroves were keeping Nitrates at Zero  

 

 

 

Then it was time for a short ride to another perfect beach for lunch

 

 

 and then on home to the Hotel to get Mrs Gooner to do her thang with the aftersun cream ......I meant for my sunburnt back, naturally  

 

All in all a superb day!!!!!  Especially if you're a fishkeeping nurd