Who turned on the lights?

Well, it's low season for snorkelling & diving in Bocas as well.  They are still operating dive tours, but not enough people to run snorkelling trips.  However, one of the shops also rents kayaks, and the "Oklahoman, NOT Texan" owner spent about 25 minutes going over all the different areas.  I decided on a place that was apparently 'further than anyone has taken one of his kayaks'.  Sounds like a challenge :)

My destination is some mangroves between Isla Solarte and Isla Bastimentos, a little past the half the length of Isla Solarte.  The seas were choppy with a maximum swell of about 4 feet.  It made for tough progress, but eventually I hit the calmer waters between the two islands.

Took about an hour of solid paddling to reach the mangroves.  Tied off the kayak and jumped in.

What I jumped into.

There were thousands.  Tens of thousands.

Starfish were everywhere

Under everything.

Yes, Panama does have a garbage problem.

These were plentiful.

They closed up just as I was taking this picture.

Colours

More colours

Sea Cumber (thanks Vicky for identifying).

Never got a great picture of this fish, it was too fast for me.

Check out the neon.

Different coloured Sea Cucumber

....and more colour

...and more

Jellyfish

I did ask what this fish is called, but I forgot the name :(

When I figure it out, I'll amend this comment.

Apparently the above is terrible visibility for Bocas.  Pretty good in my books, it'll do for this trip.

It was raining while I was in the water, but that was OK.  But it kept raining when I got out, so I took shelter in the mangroves for about 10 minutes until it subsided.  The weather held until about 20 minutes after I returned, and it's been raining on and off ever since.  Unfortunately I think sunny weather will be scarce while I'm in Bocas.  Better try to stay in the water or the bar.