Gifft Hill School summer camp kids are amazed by underwater sea life on the glass bottom boat Discovery’s maiden voyage on Friday, August 12.
Gifft Hill School summer camp kids “ooohed” and “aahed” as they witnessed turtles, stingrays, starfish, conch and more on Friday, August 12. But the kids weren’t snorkeling, or even getting wet. They viewed the V.I.’s abundant sea life in its natural habitat from the safety of the Discovery, Global Marine’s new glass bottom boat, which made its maiden voyage August 12 with the summer camp kids aboard.
The 72-foot glass bottom boat was purchased with a big goal in mind: to unite the young and old, residents and visitors, and to expose the children of the Virgin Islands to the territory’s stunning natural resources.
“It’s an opportunity for our kids in the Virgin Islands to be able to see marine wildlife in its natural habitat, while developing their social skills by mixing them with tourists and island seniors,” said Stanley Hedrington of Global Marine. “The boat is big enough that we can host both a classroom and a semior group. We have to find a way to expose the children to marine wildlife, which is one of the most important things we have here in the Virgin Islands.”
The Discovery was blessed in July, and crews spent some time motoring around Pillsbury Sound and beyond seeking out the best sites for viewing marine life through the boat’s underwater windows. The waters around Stevens Cay, Congo and Lovango teemed with stingrays, sharks, starfish, conch and more.
“We saw some special sites,” said Carmen Hedrington. “It was awesome.”
Stanley Hedrington, an avid diver, appreciates the opportunity to view underwater sea life without the extra worry that comes with diving.
“I wasn’t able to really appreciate the fact that it’s a whole different world until I took a little tour,” he said. “I didn’t have to worry about running out of air or getting a cramp. I could really focus on the beauty of it all.”
“This is an opportunity we have to let our kids know the value of the marine industry and how we can benefit from preserving it,” Hedrington added.
For more information on the glass bottom boat Discovery, contact Global Marine at 779-1739.
