Thursday, January 9th started off with a much-anticipated snorkel and diving adventure to an underwater spot known for its sea turtles and spotted eagle rays. Although my first experience with snorkeling outside of Discovery Bay ended in an unfortunate bout of nausea, I was hopeful that my second experience would be better. After a beautiful sunrise boat ride skipping along the coast, we reached our destination. Fast forward 10-15 minutes and I was… back in the boat… seasick…
The sunrise over the island of Jamaica, as seen from the boat bright and early at 7:15am!
As it turns out, snorkeling oceanside is not for me. After some time on dry land, some lunch (yum, lionfish!) and a little prep time, I was back out in Discovery Bay to work on my transect assignment with Gaby. After nauseously bobbing around in deeper water, snorkeling through the warm, shallow bay felt like home. There’s also no more comforting sight than coming across the most beautiful invertebrate the Caribbean has to offer: the West Indian Sea Egg. The perfect balance between a hedgehog and a pet rock (or a tribble, for all 3 Star Trek fans reading this), Tripneustes ventricosus has captured my heart and has topped the list for my all-time favorite reef creature. The way they cover themselves in bits of seagrass and other materials to conceal themselves is not only smart, but adorable. I never thought that I could get so attached to a sea urchin, but Tripneustes has defied all my expectations. I can’t help but pick them up in the bay when I see them, if only to hold them for a little while…
A big, beautiful Tripneustes that I found while snorkeling in the bay. He held onto my hand so tightly with his little tube feet! So heartwarming. Other marine animals are cool and all, but Tripneustes will forever hold a special place in my heart.
- Egg Bagel Emma