1-5-12

We had a 7:00am start, which began with a cold shower and it sure woke me up!

Porcupine fish.

Our day consisted of over four hours of lecture, which seems like a lot because it is, but we learn so much! We also went out snorkeling for the first time and it was amazing I had a bit of difficulty trying to figure out how to kick correctly, because I normally dive and when you dive you swim parallel to the bottom with straight legs, but while snorkeling you have to bend your legs at the knee. I got it now though =] A few of us got to go all the way out to the reef crest which was amazing I’ve never seen anything like it. Each patch of coral is like an entirely new ecosystem, there is always something different and new to look at, so don’t skip over any. I was able to see a Porcupine fish (Diodon hystrix) and it was definitely one of the largest we have seen so far. I also got to a Spotted Scorpionfish (Scorpaena plumieri) which blended right in I think I swam by it at least twice before I noticed it. We were in the water for an hour and a half, but I could have stayed out there all day. We didn’t stop all day. We were finally dismissed at around 7:00pm, when we all decided to panic about how much we have to memorize and study. We have to know the common name and the scientific name of everything we have seen, which I think is going to be the most challenging. Either way it’s not that bad, but I’ll let you know how I do.

1-6-12

Day two begins with…yes another cold shower hehehe

Today the professors have over five hours of lecture planned for us. When did I get the time to write this blog I don’t really know, between our ten and fifteen minute breaks maybe? We went out for another snorkeling trip this morning but the wind was intense and made the visibility very poor and the water extremely choppy; I was being thrown all over the place. My group and I thought it was hopeless, but we did manage to collect a few things for our collection tank. We brought back various types of algae and we were able to find a sea star, so I say job well done for the conditions.

Can you see the spotted Scorpionfish ?

So all I can say is I am learning so much and at times it feels like information overload, but so far it has been an amazing experience and I’m so glad I decided to study in Jamaica!

Well off to lunch…

Celeste Stout