by Rosie Burr

Grenada:

MAY 2011

CARIBBEAN COMPASS

PAGE 24

Grenada is one of those islands that has it all, from beautiful beaches to lush tropical rainforests. It’s no wonder tourists and cruisers alike flock there by the boatload. What better way for us to explore this island than through our love of water? Underwater Sculpture Park The underwater sculpture park at Moliniere Bay was designed by artist Jason de Caires Taylor. It is accessible either by road and a short walk, by organized tour, or in your own boat. Free mooring buoys have been put in place but if you find the area a little rolly, try anchoring in Grand Mal Bay to the south and dinghying around the corner. With a total of 65 sculptures the aim of the park is to provide an environment for marine life to grow and to provide an alternative for water activities that elsewhere are damaging to the fragile coral reefs. Standing in the sand, each sculpture tells a different story, changing and growing each day as marine life and weather conditions affect them and their environment. The most recognizable and perhaps easiest-to-find sculpture is the circle of life-sized children holding hands; it is called Vicissitudes (meaning the ups and downs and changes in your life). As the lives of children change and evolve over time, so do the statues, adapting to the environment around them as light and marine conditions change. Grace Reef in the northern part of the bay plays host to 16 figures of Grenadian women. Scattered about in an area that suffered considerable storm damage, these figures depict the ongoing development of the island and its people as the women become hidden by and re-emerge from the shifting sands of the sea floor. To find out more information about these and the other sculptures and where to find

Water Wonderful

Peace and quiet at La Sagesse

them visit www.underwatersculpture.com. Gems of Beaches Grenada is not well known for its beaches but if you dig a little deeper some real gems can be found. Many of the beaches you are unable to anchor off, in order to reserve them for swimming or owing to pollution concerns. Grand Anse beach is one of those, a large expanse of white sand beach stretching for more than two miles. Popular with both locals and tourists alike, it is lined with hotels and beachside restaurants and makes a fun and lively place to hang out for the day. You can anchor just to the north or dock at Port Louis and come by dinghy, or arrive from other anchorages and marinas by road. For something a little more serene, the pristine beach at Morne Rouge is the perfect place to escape and relax in the quiet shallow waters of the secluded bay. In favourable conditions it makes a charming anchorage for those with a shallow enough draft. If it’s a day of snorkeling you fancy then try heading farther west along the north side of Point Saline to Magazine Beach. Not only does it have glorious white sand and turquoise blue sea but offers some good and safe snorkeling in relatively shallow water. The Aquarium restaurant right on the beach makes a nice place to refresh with a cold beer.

Grand Anse is a fun place to get wet

Over on Grenada’s southeast corner, La Sagesse is a beach for nature lovers. It is a long stretch of undisturbed sand lined with palm trees and laced with nature trails and walks. It is home to La Sagesse resort and restaurant. You can anchor nearby at St. David’s Harbour. For something a little more wild and rugged, any of the beaches on the northeast coast are worth a visit by road. Bathway beach is another popular spot with a couple of rickety beach bars. A rocky outcrop provides an area to swim in, sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean. Levera Beach is somewhat more off the beaten track where you are more than likely to have the place to yourself. It faces Sugar Loaf Island and is a wild and windswept beach that forms part of Grenada’s national parks. —Continued on next page

MARINA PORT LA ROYALE - Marigot – 97150 - Saint Martin – F.W.I • In the center of Marigot,

surrounded by the best restaurants and shops in town

• 90 dock spaces and 48 buoys • Hurricane protected • Saint Martin customs clearances at marina office

Tel : + 590 590 872 043 • Fax: + 590 590 875 595 • semregine1@wanadoo.fr • www.marina-port-la-royale.com • VHF: 16/12