A marine protected area of some 500 hectares have been created around Grenada to conserve and protect it’s marine ecosystem, including coral reefs and diverse marine life, while also supporting sustainable livelihoods and tourism.
In practice this means that cruisers are not allowed to anchor in most spots and mooring balls have been placed in areas where cruisers can stay for however long they choose at $15 per day. This is made really easy to pay online and there is no physical money changing hands. Although it is a bit annoying to not be able to anchor, most reasonable cruisers understand and are onboard with marine preservation as for as possible.
However, there are always the exceptions. While moored in Dragon Bay, we spoke to a very nice local lady called Christina and asked what happened to the fairly new boat that was pretty well fitted out with radar and so on that was sadly laying on the rocks. She shook her head and said tantrums in adults just never go very well. Apparently this person anchored in the bay although the mooring balls were available and all the charts are updated to show that anchoring is not allowed in the bay and up to about 200 yards offshore.
The marine patrol boat approached this boat and advised that anchoring was not allowed. The cruiser got upset and wanted to argue, but there are no exceptions allowed – NO anchoring, period. He then threw a tantrum, pulled up his anchor, set his auto pilot and went below to fume. Unfortunately he evidently made a tiny mistake with setting the course and the next thing he knew, his boat was running into the adjacent coral reef and with the swells pushing him hard on the rocks, there was nothing he could do to save his boat.
However sad it is to see a sailboat on the rocks, the question in my mind remains that was it really worth saving the $15 and complying with the rules of your host nation while you’re a guest on their island and enjoying everything they’re trying to protect to ensure their own livelihood for the future.
There is so much beauty to enjoy and if everyone just do their little part, all of us can keep on enjoying it for many decades to come.
Nearby Underwater Sculpture Garden
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