I was farther south in the place considered the most beautiful of the Gulf of Mixico. It is the place where the film of the Black Pearl (pirate story) was shot. It is called Roca Partida. N18 38.76 W95 04.53.

There are three things worth mentioning.

1. The place is paradise. You can fish anything, in big sizes. It is still primitive, tropical, green, full of vegetation and sea life and pretty. There are tremendous walls of minimum 150 feet in deep water, where big caves are formed and you can paddle in and out. Beaches are fantastic, with camping for 2.00 USD per person.

2. It was my first time close and under big walls, with those waves. Swell was about 3 to 5 feet, and it bounced on the 3 mile long rocky edge, creating a very shaky environment. I tried to paddle farther out but it takes almost a mile to start feeling a lower shake. My friend Josi, had been there twice and felt more at home.

   On Roca Partida, there is this big natural cave and Josi went straight to it. I really felt uneasy. I did not foresee a real danger, but was afraid of the unknown. I followed him in spite of seeing waves grow bigger closer to the wall.

   Nothing happened. We entered the big room, and saw two smaller ones farther in. There was enough space to turn around and move about. From the dark inside you could only see the shinning big hole whose base came up and down. Coming out we were received by a large wave, with no consequence and paddled back until the beach showed and water calmed down.

3. The third thing was a funny situation. I took out my medicine case from my kayaking bag, to take my prescription and accidentally dropped near Josi's wife a chemical light stick, used for emergencies at night. This was about 6 inches long with yellow and orange moving liquids on the inside. They are unknown in this area, so Luisa didn't know how to ask if that thing was mine since she felt that it was coming out of my medicine bag, and could not figure out how I used it and what good it could make as a healing element. So finally she questioned if it was mine. I recognized it and figured out her confusion and started laughing at her doubts. I could not think of any medical use either.

Anyway, coming back to Roca Partida. I strongly recommend to visit these places. Closer than Hawaii or New Zeland or Polinesian Islands, but with a very enjoyable flavor. BTW no mosquitoes on winter time.

Best Regards,

Rafael
el cayucochief
Mexico

PS: I need some rock garden classes and I need to take my helmet and plastic boat with me from now on.