Our fifth day in Jamaica, was the first day we really got a taste of the Caribbean sun. Before lunch, we all met at the dock for a fun reef creature scavenger hunt. We broke up into our Photo I.D. project groups and took to the bay with hopes of completing Dr. Warren’s daunting list in just under an hour. My group scoured the bay looking for many different types of algae, fish, and invertebrates. By the end of our snorkel, we had gathered enough pictures and specimens to almost complete the hunt, only missing one or two algae.

After lunch, my roommate Sammi and I returned to enjoy the gorgeous weather. Within the first few minutes of snorkeling, I saw a small barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) and an even smaller baby barracuda. We then swam to the other side of the jetty to look at all of the fish in the shallow rocks. While passing over a sand patch I spotted a small southern stingray (Hypanus americanus). It was amazing and one of my most anticipated sightings. Of course, it started cruising away the second I alerted Sammi, so we chased it hoping to get a good video. We underestimated how fast it could swim and it eventually outran us, but we still got some cool shots. I can’t wait to see what future dives and snorkels have in store for me.

Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) swimming near the rocks

Amazing southern stingray (Hypanus americanus) sitting on the sand in Discovery Bay

-Caitlin