[octopus]

During the “Golden Age of Piracy” in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, Port Royal, Jamaica stood as one of the most popular ports of call for thieves, prostitutes and pirates of every stripe. The small harbor’s association with marauding began in the mid-1600s, when Jamaica’s governors offered it up as a safe haven for pirates in exchange for protection from the Spanish. The buccaneers accepted the deal, and the town soon became a major staging ground for British and French privateers—ship captains commissioned by the Crown to disrupt Spanish shipping in the Caribbean and Atlantic. One of the most famous of these state-sanctioned pirates was Sir Henry Morgan, a Welsh captain who used Port Royal as a base of operations for raids on the Spanish strongholds at Portobello, Cartagena and Panama City.

[someotherguy]

The west coast of Ireland might not seem like prime pirate territory, but in the 16th century the rugged shores of Clew Bay served as the stronghold for of one of history’s most formidable lady corsairs. During a time when Ireland was ruled by dozens of local chieftains, Grace O’Malley defied convention and emerged as the leader of a seafaring clan who controlled the coastlines through intimidation and plunder. From her base of operations at Rockfleet Castle, O’Malley—also known as Granuaile—commanded hundreds of men and some 20 ships in raids on rival clans and merchant ships. She also ran afoul of government officials, who made repeated attempts to curb her activity. When a fleet from Galway besieged her castle in 1574, O’Malley led her pirates in a counterattack and forced the ships into a retreat. [links]

[bart27newton]

O’Malley was captured in 1577 and spent several months behind bars, but by the 1580s she was once again stalking the seas surrounding Clew Bay. Her hands-on style of leadership earned her a reputation as a ruthless fighter—a popular legend states that she once gunned down a Turkish buccaneer only a day after giving birth—but she also showed a keen understanding of politics. When English colonial authorities eventually captured her son and impounded her ships, O’Malley petitioned the Crown for redress and then set sail for England. During a historic 1593 meeting with Queen Elizabeth I, she personally negotiated her son’s release and even secured the return of her fleet. [links]

[Angela Clark]

The Whitsundays will be on the big screen with the release of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, due to release on 24 May 2017.

[chaord]

The villain has been a long time enemy of Jack's and has recently escaped the Devil's Triangle with the vow to kill all pirates, including Jack himself. Jack's only hope of defeating his foe is to capture Poseidon's trident, which will give him power over all the seas, giving the story its oh-so-pirates charm. [links]

[skinnyp83]

In July of 2015, part of the film was shot in the Whitsundays on the infamous Whitehaven Beach, a favourite to tourists and locals that is known for its 7km of white silica sands. It is said that the film crew brought in extra palms and trees to make the area look more like the Caribbean, with extra tropical foliage to make it fit better with the film. [links]

[esop]

As the fifth Pirates of the Caribbean film wraps up its filming, there is no better time for one to remind themselves of the beautiful island scenery that Captain Jack Sparrow has ventured to. Whether it is on a private superyacht or on a luxury yacht charter in the Caribbean these are the top five places to visit.

[Elanthius]

Grand Bahama is where ocean-bound scenes in the film where filmed In Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead mans chest. The northernmost island of the Bahamas, Grand Bahama is famous for its vibrant atmosphere. Johnny Depp enjoyed the area so much that he bought his own island nearby after the film was released. [links]

[TheColdOne]

How to visit on a superyacht: Port Lucaya Marina is located on the northern tip of the island only 70 miles from Florida and is a popular starting point for luxury yacht charters in the North Bahamas. There are two berthing wings which, offer people a choice between a vibrant market town setting or a more peaceful atmosphere among tropical gardens. [links]

[vorton]

For pirate enthusiasts, a short distance from the island is the shipwreck Quedagh Merchant of the 1700s, the infamous Captain William Kidd. No ordinary ship, the Quedagh carried a lot of treasures. [links]

[tehlaser]

As part of the route of the Underwater Museums of La Romana, the wreck of Captain Kidd became famous due to its discovery by a tourist and a subsequent documentary of National Geographic.

[ender_x]

Catalina’s waters abound in coral reefs, including the “Living Museum of the Sea” after the discovery, after three centuries, of the shipwreck of Captain Kidd 70 feet (21 meters) deep in the vicinity of the island.

[ihateregistering]

Most groups spend a couple of hours diving and having lunch, and the divers head for a steep descent called The Wall.

[devnull791101]

Although small in size, Catalina Island gathers an amazing list of exciting activities above and below the surface. Here are some ideas for things to do on the island to inspire your next adventure. here

[aurelian]

Although they are allowed to photograph, they are kept at a safe distance from the tourist. They usually leave in the afternoon for food exchanges, once the visitors have left. more