This story is continued from the blogpost "Island-Hopping in Abaco."
Easter Sunday. April 1, 2018. Today was the day I was going for an Easter Egg Dive. (You read that right!) Alan and I camped out early at Nipper's Beach Bar & Grill, an outdoor bar/restaurant perched on a seaside bluff. We staked our claim on a table at the upper level from where we could get captivating 180-degree views of the ocean blue.
We willingly shared our table with a small family while waiting for our order of starter cocktails. Before long, the restaurant filled up with zippy music and Easter revelers, livening up the atmosphere. Families, party lovers, first-time and returning visitors converged here for the annual Easter festivities. Smiles swirled around as some splashed in the pool, while others frolicked on the beach, sipped on cocktails, swayed to dance beats, or sang along to popular tunes. Everyone was simply having a good time. The energy was infectious.
The traditional pig roast buffet opened at noon with traditional Bahamian fixin's such as baked mac n’ cheese as well as peas n’ rice -- all prepared by Nipper's beloved cook, Debbie. When I asked to take a peek at the spread, she picked up the lids of the chafing dishes, revealing the roast pork and favorite sides like potato salad, Cajun coleslaw, custard corn bread, and fruit salad.
Following the sumptuous lunch was the anticipated children’s Easter Egg Hunt held right on the beach. Eager children with their parents flocked around the designated area. As soon as the start signal went off, the children scampered, racing to uncover treasures of colorful plastic eggs.
Later, adults gathered to start the Easter Egg Dive in this area also known to be the seat of the world's third largest coral reef. You can just imagine how thrilled I was to join this underwater egg hunt. Sadly, things didn't go as planned. I thought I was all set to capture the event on my GoPro but the windy day brought stronger waves than usual. This short girl had to be on tippy toes just to keep her head above water. Without a life vest, I had to juggle the tasks of snorkeling and filming while desperately staying afloat. It didn’t help that I’ve had a couple of cocktails either.
I didn't make it far enough to find anything. In the end, the only footage I captured were of my limbs helplessly flapping all over the place. The audio consisted of my occasional gasps for breath. But some diehards came prepared. They were in complete diving gear and bravely ventured way out into the open sea. Victorious ones returned with the prized plastic eggs that contained vouchers for various treats such as a free beer. I was in complete awe as I watched all of this unfold. I've never seen anything like it.
I’ve been told more than once that if I wanted to truly experience The Bahamas, I should visit the out islands. That is, travel outside Nassau and New Providence Island. After this incomparable experience, I can't wait to discover more about this archipelago. With its 700 islands, beautiful Bahamas will undoubtedly give me an endless supply of adventures. I'm all fired up!
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