Nikki scouring the reef.

Our BRUV deployment trip started off normally; the boat pulled out onto smooth water at 7:20 this morning. After dropping all three cameras, we stopped for a dive (or snorkel) at Dairy Bull. Brad, Nikki, and I went to check on tiles for a project for one of Brad’s former grad students. We had to make sure that all the submerged tiles were accounted for. As we swam up to a cove to meet the snorkelers, we saw plenty of Lionfish, filefish, sea sponges, and a ton of clothing. Each diver and snorkeler surfaced with arms full of clothing, including a pair of shoes, several pairs of khaki pants, boxers, and a piece of a wig. Brad and the boat’s captain, Scarlett, hypothesized that a large group of kids decided to go swimming and lost their clothes in the process. A passing spearfisher told us that last time they found clothes floating this close to shore, they found a body with it.

We were glad that didn’t happen.

An elusive tile, used by Brad’s former student as part of a study.

• Lila