Topic: San Juan Puerto Rico Paddling Desitinations

Tagged: biobay, bioluminescent, dinoflagellates, Puerto Rico, Vieques

This topic has 5 voices, contains 12 replies, and was last updated by 129 days ago.

Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)

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July 23, 2009 at 10:10 am #32792
James	My wife just sent me a surprise email. We’re going to Puerto Rico August 20-24 We’re going to be staying in San Juan at The Conrad. Do any of you know any good paddling destinations in or around San Juan? I’m sure we can probably rent a SOT on any of the beaches. I’ve heard there is photoluminescent algae in some of the lagoons and I want to try and find it and possibly photograph it.
July 23, 2009 at 10:25 pm #32793
Dennis	Oooh, Oooh, Oooh… If there is any way you can swing it you have to go paddling on the bio-luminescence bay. Words and pictures cannot describe it or prepare you for the actual experience. The best time to go is during the new moon so it is really dark out. It’s magic. Check with the hotel for a list of recommended outfitters. http://www.biobay.com/
July 25, 2009 at 12:05 am #32794
James	It looks as though our fortuitous trip planning has us landing in PR on the night of the new moon. Crazy glowing algae here we come. Do you have any suggestions on exposure or should I just let the camera figure it out?
July 29, 2009 at 9:33 pm #32795
Dennis	I think it would be a long exposure so I’m not sure how you are going to pull that off unless you use slow rear sync flash. Maybe a search of the web can offer some suggestions. I though about this before and there are some outfits that use electric pontoon boats which might allow you to set up a tripod but you will most likely be using sit on top kayaks. When we were there we tied all the bows of the kayaks together. One of the guides jumped in the water and swam around with a rope and then pulled all the boats together like a the drawstring in a pair of warm fuzzy sweatpants. That kept all the boats rafted together but it was still not really stable enough for time exposures. Slow sync would give you the glow and then freeze the subject (more or less). Not a perfect solution but if you are using a small waterproof camera that seems like the only option. It really is impressive. You start out thinking it’s going to be like a dollar store glow stick and it does take a while for it to get really dark and then for your eyes to adjust but it is worth the wait. Don’t curse your luck if it rains, they say that the rain hitting the water in the bio-bay is really cool to see. Fish jumping out of the water is a trip also. When the fish swim near the surface it leaves a trail of light behind them. Just do it.
August 19, 2009 at 11:04 pm #32796
James	We leave in the morning. Woohoo!
August 20, 2009 at 1:57 pm #32797
James	I’ve landed in puerto rico check http://www.facebook.com/jamesdixson or http://twitter.com/adventurecanoe for photos
August 20, 2009 at 8:38 pm #32798
Dennis	This seems like a good time for a joke. “How hot is it in Puerto Rico?” “It’s so hot right now that fat tourists are making their own gravy.”
August 21, 2009 at 6:51 pm #32799
James	yes I am making my own gravy… See photos of the San Cristobal Fort on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2539775&l=1dd40455e3&id=653408714
August 21, 2009 at 10:26 pm #32800
MotoMike	Sounds like a great time. Been many a year, but I once spent about 4 days in Rosevelt Roads and Ceiba. was there on my first ship after refresher training in Cuba. met a nurse who live in Ceiba and well, I guess this is a family forum so I will just say I have fond memories of those 4 days and leave it at that.
August 22, 2009 at 3:55 pm #32801
crow	Puerto Rico sounds great. Never thought of it as a paddling destination though. I’m just back from Spain myself. It was hot enough for me! Didn’t do any canoeing but we did rent pedaloes on the beach. I’m thinking of posting a trip report of our pedalo epic, actually, just for a laugh. Hope you have a great time over there, James!
August 22, 2009 at 5:27 pm #32802
James	We are having a great time. We took one of those snorkeling tours on a 62 foot catamaran. If you ever go snorkeling make sure to get sunscreen on your lower back and the backs of your knees. These areas aren’t usually exposed to the sun but as you can imagine lying face down in the ocean gives the sun a clear shot. I am the same color as my canoe. We may do the bio-bay tomorrow but we’re pretty beat down tonight. I think its going to be a nice calm night at the hotel. We’re staying at El Convento which was actually an 18th century convent. Yesterday we visited the San Cristobol Fort. I will post a real trip report as soon as I can download my camera images and use a real computer. -James
August 23, 2009 at 6:42 pm #32803
Dennis	*Bio-Bay, not to be confused with the (Scott) Baio Bay, which would of course be a biological hazard any way you look at it. Who knows maybe those Bio-Bay microbes are good for a sunburn. Take a nap before you go. You might want to take a bottle of water and a power bar also in case (likely) they don’t supply anything like that. If you are sunburned you may get chilly (sounds impossible but true). Take some towels or a long sleeve shirt to wear on the way back. In Michigan we found whole aloe leaves at the grocery store that were about two feet long and worked on sunburn much better than any lotions claiming to have aloe in them (probably 1% or less). Ask at the market.
January 10, 2012 at 6:55 pm #32804
	Try taking a tour from Rouche Harbor. It is widely considered one of the best paddling destinations in the world. You might even see whales, sea lions, or seals while paddling near there. Its about a three hour tour with great places to stop for a picnic lunch, so be prepared.