Ever spent an evening relaxing on your couch watching Discovery Channel and in awe, completely mesmerized by what the camera lens is zooming in and out of? Well, imagine the same view experienced through your own eyes. LIVE. Barrier reef, finger coral, anemones, sea urchins, school of fish, and the poisonous lionfish… All of this, and much more, is Jamaica right before your eyes. I knew traveling to Jamaica to study coral reef ecology would be a vivid, opportune experience but not until I waddled in my flippers from the dock and dunked my head underwater to see did I realize that snorkeling through the Caribbean Sea was, in essence, the Discovery Channel Live. I saw the finger coral, which has finger-like branches that span out at you. Anemones, purple and green tipped, are pretty but will sting at the slightest touch. Black sea urchins, although beautiful and majestic, are best to look at and let be. Every single sight is rich and beautiful. In the clear blue, warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, to swim quickly is to miss picture perfect scenery. Glide gently, enjoy, and observe Jamaica in all of its diverse maritime glory and sustainability. One of the coolest things I discovered my first day snorkeling was that some of the fish will seemingly interact with you. A few that I came across would directly look at me for a good 5 seconds, swimming back and forth to keep afloat, as if checking me out or posing for the camera. I was able to capture a good portrait of a yellow-tailed damselfish this way.

First day in Jamaica: exhilarating. And many more days like these to come.

-Liza

Portrait of a damselfish.

Beautiful and majestic black sea urchins.

Me snorkeling for the first time in Jamaica.