An unexpectedly calm vacation

Young Chang

Glenn Highland has, of course, never swam in a fish tank.

But snorkeling in the waters off the British Virgin Islands was so

vivid and varied that he compares the experience to jumping into a

tropical fish tank.

“You could just sit there and look around and see billions and

billions of fish,” the Corona del Mar resident said. “I’ve had the

chance to snorkel over most of the world, but because [the water] was

so calm, the variety and abundance of the tropical fish was just

fantastic.”

Highland traveled with four friends in late July to both the

British and American Virgin Islands because the group loves sailing

in general and makes it a point to go to the Caribbean for about a

month every year and just chill.

“And it’s a time when it’s not so crowded, when it’s the beginning

of summer,” the traveler said.

It’s also a time less susceptible to, but still in the path of,

hurricanes.

“It’s not dangerous if you watch the weather,” Highland said. “But

no hurricanes hit. It was surprisingly calm, very warm, and we had

almost no wind for a week.”

The group chartered a boat, a 46-foot catamaran, on which they

sailed, relaxed, watched stars and jumped off to snorkel. Every night

they anchored the boat at a different place and enjoyed cocktails

while watching sunsets.

“And because you’re away from all the city lights, the stars are

fantastic so we’d be able to watch the moon rise and the stars,” the

52-year-old Highland said. “And each evening the stars were special

and the sunset was special because you’re so far away from land.”

Snorkeling was extra convenient during the trip because calm

waters let the sailors venture to spots they normally wouldn’t. They

even snorkeled over to the Wreck of the Rhone, a 300-foot British

male vessel ship that sank in the 1860s during a hurricane. Highland

and his friends witnessed the ribs of the ship and the outlines on

the ocean floor where the ship settled as it sank.

“It’s very interesting to see a wreck and think about the effect

on people’s lives and it’s a reminder of the strength of the sea,”

said Highland, a former chief executive officer of a technology

company.

Kristin Wilson, a Newport Beach resident who was also on the trip,

said the calm of the water and the blue of the sky became even more

prominent against the memory of the sad tragedy.

She added that the group got their fill of snorkeling, doing more

than she’ll want to do for awhile.

An unexpected perk for Highland was being ready to come home after

being on the water for a little over two weeks.

“It’s always nice to come home to Corona del Mar and walk my

Labrador,” he said.

* Have you, or someone you know, gone on an interesting vacation

recently? Tell us your adventures. Drop us a line to Travel Tales,

330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627; e-mail young.chang@latimes.com;

or fax to (949) 646-4170.