Big Majors and Staniel Cay in The Exumas

We left for Big Majors on Sunday, March 30, 2015 and were able to sail for several hours.  Normally the wind is not blowing in the direction we want to go and the water is very shallow in many areas so we are limited to where we can navigate.  We anchored in Big Majors which is very close to Staniel Cay.  Big Majors is an island where the swimming pigs live – yes, swimming pigs that as soon as you head towards the beach they swim out to your boat looking for food.  People come from all over to see these wild pigs that are only interested in you if you have food to feed them.  We were told of “Bill’s Pirate Beach” which is an accumulation of chairs, umbrellas, tables, grill, beach games, and signs for the comfort and relaxation of the cruisers – and BYOB!  The starfish, stingrays and sharks are plentiful and beautiful.  Getting groceries can be quite a challenge and on occasion Chuck has to haul a case of cans on his shoulder – but how else will he get his exercise?  On Staniel Cay, the local fisherman clean their daily catches on the dock and throw the pieces to the nurse sharks and stingrays. Believe it or not, people get in the water here and swim with them.  Chuck was brave enough to wade in the water with the sharks, but they weren’t interested in him much.    The James Bond movie, Thunderball, was filmed here in 1965 and we went snorkeling in Thunderball Grotto in the cave where some of the scenes were shot.  The varieties and quantity of fish was amazing and some of the best snorkeling so far.  Everyone arrives in their dinghy and drops anchor and then socialize together rafted off of each other.  The water colors, sunsets, views and nature are hard to describe and the pictures really don’t show the real beauty.