Ilet de Pinel

Ilet de Pinel is a natural area a short boat ride from Sint Maartin. We went there to snorkel, however several days of wind and chop made for poor underwater visibility. I imagined how bleak it would have been to be shipwrecked here four centuries ago, when the dutch pirate Pinel is said to have spent several years on its shores.

Sint Maarten was devastated by hurricane Irma in 2017. Much has been rebuilt, but the affluence and conspicuous consumption of the 0.1% is a bitter contrast to the lives of the working class. At least a hundred super-yachts dot the harbor and anchorages but I am told that little of that money "trickles down" to the local people.

We met some very nice island residents on our very short vacation.

 My dive housing leaked so I was only able to take a handful of photos but fortunately the SD card is fine. The little flea market nikon is now "toast".

I should be able to rebuild the seals on the housing and will try to retrofit another camera for it.  I'm just lucky it didn't leak on a dive trip...