Snorkeling is the absolute best in the early morning. Since we were all up for breakfast at 7:30, going out to snorkel at 8:30 was no big deal. By 9:45 it felt like midafternoon and we were all still full from breakfast with tons of energy and motivation to identify and spot marine life. Due to the fact that we all were in the water well before 9:00, we were able to see many more fish of all different varieties. This included coral, eels, puffer fish, barracuda, needlefish, jellyfish, and sea stars! Our lecture of that same day included some initial identifications of marine hazards in the water to be aware of. This included many scientific identifications of certain marine plants, invertebrates, and fish. That being said, during our morning snorkel we actually saw phylum porifera, Cassiopea frondosa, Polyplacophora, Strombus gigas, Linckia guildingii, Ophiocoma paucingranulata, Diadema antillarum, and Holothurian mexicana.

Fay holding a sea star and a sea urchin. Also known as a linckia guildingii and a tripneustes ventricosus.

The complexity of these scientific names is definitely one aspect of this study abroad that will be of specific challenge to me. In fact, as a group of us were studying these scientific identification names, it almost sounded as if we were casting spells. It is reassuring that all of us on this trip are in the same boat and therefore each have about 18 other students to help each other study. Part of the cooperative studying today included a small group of us heading out to the water. While by the docks some people went in the water and others stayed on land. People in the water were responsible for spotting fish, giving a description of the fish to people on land, and the people on land were responsible for identifying and providing the common and scientific name of the specific organism. This was a very useful studying method because we were able to enjoy the water and the weather while also learning about the things we were seeing. I look forward to continuing the learning here, and I know I will need all the time possible to practice these complicated, “Harry-Potter-esq” names.

– Fay