September 19 – 23, 2013
This particularly lovely spot was just around a corner from us (see map in previous post) and was actually part of an anchorage we’d considered as we made our way to Legacy’s current location.
The anchorage itself was beautiful, teal blue water surrounded by steep, stony cliffs draped with green vegetation. At the back of the anchorage sat a large, boulder-like motu. It was behind this motu that we found the magical place we called the Blue Pool. (Below, a few photos of the anchorage outside the Blue Pool. Click to enlarge and scroll through the photo galleries to follow.)
While the boulder island was large, there were channels around both sides of it leading into this special place: a large pool of water surrounded on three sides by vertical rock cliffs and hanging greenery. On its open side the boulder island separated it from the larger outer bay. (Below, a few photos of the channels leading into the Blue Pool.)
What made this spot so extraordinary, beyond merely being beautiful, was the water’s luminescent, ethereal glow. The glow seemed brightest in the sunlight, but even on cloudy days the water still seemed lit from within. Mostly this glow was a light, almost neon blue, but other times it glowed a vivid green. In the shadows the hues ranged from a rich blue to emerald (thus, the “Blue Pool” is a bit of a misnomer). The combination of rock walls, draping vegetation, glowing water, and the enclosed feeling made it seem like a dream world. (Below, a few photos of the Blue Pool)
Some of the brightest water was under the ledges beneath the cliffs. We were very anxious to return and do some snorkeling.
Below, a quick video from one of our visits to the Blue Pool. You can see how it changes color depending on the light, shadows, and viewing angle. Maybe we should have called it “The Blue or Green Pool Depending.” -Cyndi
