Location: Ile Fourchue
Ile Fourche is a small rocky island located approximately three nautical miles from St. Barth, and it is one of my personal favorites. In stark contrast to the lush tropical islands of Nevis, St. Lucia, and Dominica, Ile Fourche is extremely dry and completely uninhabited. The bay, which, when viewed from above, resembles a submerged moon crater, is filled with beautiful aqua water and lined with pure white sand. The surrounding hills perfectly fend off the strong open ocean winds while simultaneously allowing the cool tropical breezes to refresh the deck. In addition to its natural beauty, Ile Fourche provides an abundance of activities, everything from diving to hiking. Today began with a wonderful open water dive, during which we saw upwards of 29 barracudas, two sea turtles, and a pair of large spotted eagle rays. Some of the group even heard humpback whales underwater! After the dive, the crew continued their rescue diver certification, and we spent the open afternoon windsurfing, swimming, and hiking the surrounding peaks. Since we sail for Statia tomorrow, we also prepared the boat for our passage, and it became obvious that we, the crew, had become slightly salty. Each shipmate attended quietly and diligently to their tasks as we attached lazy jacks, lashed down scuba tanks, and completed all the necessary preparations. Ile Fourche is one of the most untouched parts of the Caribbean we’ve seen, and I doubt I’ll ever have the opportunity to swim to a deserted beach towing a dry bag filled with hiking shoes and a sun shirt only to hike to the top of an island, ever again.