Day Two of Cayos Cochinos - start of adventures (RePost)

Day Two was the start of new experiences and skills and when the adventure started to kick in for me.  Yesterday was filled with adventure from the break of day to the break of dawn so to speak. :)

That morning started with a nice run and I found out that there were some hiking trails to take. After a delicious breakfast, it was time to hike to the lighthouse! It was a nice 45-55 minute hike. My time hiking mountains up in Maine did not prepare me for the changes in elevations on this trail. But I loved the challenge. Luckily I had an emotional support partner on the trail who can run up and down the entire hiking trail a couple of times without breaking a sweat.

Here is Naiden, the friendly Island dog. She is looking for another big stick to play some fetch. She is the Hiking trail master on this Island.  I look forward to going on some more trails with this cool pup.

Here is the lighthouse pictured from below. Unfortunately, I was too tired to climb up this time around. But I have made it my goal to get up there by the end of the three weeks here. I am going to train my hardest to get up there. I hope to do another hike here soon in a couple of days! I will let you know when I reach the top.  I have left a part of my name marked on the lighthouse. When I reach my goal, I will have written my first and last name on the lighthouse.

After Lunch, I learn how to snorkel and take a proper survey of the reef.  It was an awesome experience. I am going to snorkel more know that I know how. I will work on trying to dive down without getting water in my snorkel.

At the end of the day was when the magic started! A star-filled sky was the perfect scenery for viewing some spotted eagle rays and some bioluminescence.  A friendly dive master lights the dark clear waters to attract plankton to entice the spotted eagle rays. After a while, more spotted eagle rays came to the spot. About 6 of them were spotted!  At one point one of them jumped out of the water for a split second.

One spotted eagle ray.

 

Two Spotted eagle rays.

And three spotted eagle rays!

Fun fact before I sign off. Each individual ray has a unique spotted pattern. 

I can´t wait to go on more adventures here! 

Bye! 

- Calle

P.s. This is a little late due to the fact that I ended up posting to the wrong blog. :P

A Different Set of Fireworks-- Night Diving!

Another Breakfast in Paradise

On the fourth day of the trip to Honduras, it truly became ironic how the name of the islands directly opposed the paradise they actually where. I woke up to rolling waves and a hummingbird hovering above a plethora of tropical flowers just outside our screened windows. After my morning routine, I made my way to the main gathering area. This area truly sells the fact that this is paradise: there are tall palm trees with hammocks strung between them, a beach teeming with life, and a kitchen where delicious meals are made for us. Once all SCUBAnauts made their way to the table, we ate breakfast and headed for the boat.

Benthic Surveys, with a Little Shake

Upon arriving at the first dive site I realized the water was much shallower then I anticipated. With each roll of a swell above me I would be shaken up and down, then side to side; this made my Benthic surveys very difficult. Eventually, I finished my transects and met up with my group, then ascended shortly after.

Recreational Dive

Next, we headed to a sea wall named Pelican Point for a recreational dive. This is what most divers experience on a typical dive, but for us, to not conduct science on a dive can feel weird, but it is also a treat! So, after quickly getting in our gear, we splashed in and were immediately met with a view of a beautiful reef on the side of a chasm. We started this dive by descending to roughly 50 feet below sea level. Then we swam along the sea wall. There was an abundance of small fish along the wall, guarding their claim. Whether it was coral or algae, they guarded it relentlessly and watched us as we swam by. After 10 minutes into the dive we began seeing much bigger fish. We even saw a puffer fish bigger than a football. Sadly, we had to ascend to follow our dive tables, but not before making a safety stop where everyone practiced their bubble ring skills. We all boarded the boat and headed back to shore.

The Main Event of the Day: the Night!

After waiting for what seemed like an eternity to me, at last, it was sundown, and we moved on to the main event of the day: the night dive. It was difficult to gear up because it was pitch black around us, and it got even darker once we splashed in and submerged. Right off the bat, we saw a small octopus hanging on to a small rock just off the side of the reef. Then, only 6 minutes later we saw a speckled moray eel darting along the reef. Through out the dive we saw many more amazing creatures such as Massive conches, squid, and huge sea cucumbers. Then we found a sandy area and did something truly spectacular. We held our lights against our body to block the light, then waved our hands through the water so that a bioluminescent glow emitted around us.

A Different Set of Fireworks

We were all very sad that we didn’t get to be home on this fourth of July, but it seemed that this light show could easily beat any fire work display. After the bioluminescence settled, it became very hard to get a bearing of our surroundings. It began to feel as though I was floating in space because the only hint of other divers was a very faint silhouette and the occasional bump of fins. Once all lights were back on, we began our swim back to the dock from which we entered the water. We chatted excitedly about the life we saw upon surfacing. I quickly washed my gear, logged my dive, and headed to bed, closing my fourth day of the SNI Honduras summer trip.

Day Two of Cayos Cochinos - start of adventures

Day Two was the start of new experiences and skills and when the adventure started to kick in for me.  Yesterday was filled with adventure from the break of day to the break of dawn so to speak. :)

That morning started with a nice run and I found out that there were some hiking trails to take. After a delicious breakfast, it was time to hike to the lighthouse! It was a nice 45-55 minute hike. My time hiking mountains up in Maine did not prepare me for the changes in elevations on this trail. But I loved the challenge. Luckily I had an emotional support partner on the trail who can run up and down the entire hiking trail a couple of times without breaking a sweat.

Here is Naiden, the friendly Island dog. She is looking for another big stick to play some fetch. She is the Hiking trail master on this Island.  I look forward to going on some more trails with this cool pup.

Here is the lighthouse pictured from below. Unfortunately, I was too tired to climb up this time around. But I have made it my goal to get up there by the end of the three weeks here. I am going to train my hardest to get up there. I hope to do another hike here soon in a couple of days! I will let you know when I reach the top.  I have left a part of my name marked on the lighthouse. When I reach my goal, I will have written my first and last name on the lighthouse.

After Lunch, I learn how to snorkel and take a proper survey of the reef.  It was an awesome experience. I am going to snorkel more know that I know how. I will work on trying to dive down without getting water in my snorkel.

At the end of the day was when the magic started! A star-filled sky was the perfect scenery for viewing some spotted eagle rays and some bioluminescence.  A friendly dive master lights the dark clear waters to attract plankton to entice the spotted eagle rays. After a while, more spotted eagle rays came to the spot. About 6 of them were spotted!  At one point one of them jumped out of the water for a split second.

One spotted eagle ray.

 

Two Spotted eagle rays.

And three spotted eagle rays!

Fun fact before I sign off. Each individual ray has a unique spotted pattern. 

I can´t wait to go on more adventures here! 

Bye! 

- Calle

La Foundacion

Balancing Ten Things

Emma dives for science.

On Cayos Cochinos we wake up in the morning to the chirping of birds, lapping of waves, and tanks clanging in preparation for the morning dives. This morning we continued our research dives at Steering Wheel key (El Timon). The fish surveying team comprised of Vivian and Markus continued the excellent work as they balance ten things at once and keep track of every fish crossing their path. The benthos surveyors (Diana, Trent, and myself) also were able to successfully complete their two transects, with the exception of myself, as I must work on my air consumption.

Lush with Life

For our second dive we headed to Lion’s head and were able to do a recreational dive. The reef, which was the favorite of our local dive master, was lush with life. I was glad to see a couple of yellow tail damselfish, my favorite, as I had not seen any on the other dive sites. What was particularly interesting to me was the height of the reef. While our group stayed near the bottom at 30 feet the reef stretched up 20 feet above us with small fish in every inch of the reef. We even saw life next to the reef on the sandy bottom, a site rarely seen in the Florida Keys. The local divemaster was very good at pointing out to lobsters, camouflaged fish, and baby eels. 

Meeting New Friends

Sammy the Gecko

Getting back from the dives we had a delicious lunch and were able to relax for a bit before getting back on the boat to take a tour of the local research facility. On the boat ride over we made a new friend in the form of a small gecko I named Sammy. He rode with us the entire way and was then deposited on a plant near the research facility. We then went inside the main building of the facility where different dried and jarred specimens lined the shelfs.

Pausing to pose with the Foundation

The Foundation

We learned how the Honduran Coral Reef Foundation, generally referred to simply as “The Foundation,” worked with the government to conserve the reef. The organization works as the reporters of the condition of the reefs as well as the enforcers of the laws which the government makes. The Foundation also is trying to work with locals to modify practices that are harming the reefs so that the people can enjoy them for many more years to come.

Even A Tropical Paradise Can Be "Less Than Favorable" (Momentarily)

Tropical Paradise

I woke up; silently I listened to tropical birds and stared at the mosquito net that was spread above my bed, wondering why I, of all the people in the world, got to be in this magnificent place. Eventually, my roommates’ nagging prompted me to finally get out of my bed and stop that train of thought. So, I walked out onto our wooden balcony, where I got to witness the beautiful, majestic view. Soon, I had to leave that comfortable setting too, and I prepared for the two dives we had planned that day. 

Less than Favorable

Dive one was at a location named La Grupera. Markus and Vivian took fish surveys, while Emma, Trent, and I took benthic transects. The conditions were what one would consider “less than favorable.” It was windy, the boat was rocking, I was seasick, my mask strap came undone, my writing slate broke in two, I dropped my data sheet, I was underweighted, my lower tank strap was unconnected, and I was precariously juggling the rest of my momentarily-undestroyed science equipment. Despite the “less than favorable” circumstances, I did as all SCUBAnauts do: I pushed through the first unfavorable five minutes so I could witness the amazing feeling that comes with contributing to necessary research.

Dive 2: Lumber Key

The second dive was at a calmer location called Lumber Key. We each completed the same data collection as the first dive; however, this dive went smoother and was altogether more enjoyable.

Back to the Classroom, In and Out of Water

Once we returned to the resort, we sat in on a lesson taught by New College University’s marine biology professor, Dr. Sandra Gilchrist. First, we listened as she lectured on data collection strategies. Then, we got into the water to physically execute the lesson we had learned. 

Headstands, Necessarily

After the lesson concluded, we snorkeled around an on-site reef, playing with sea urchins and watching giant stingrays glide by. Then, we moved on, pushing our fellow SCUBAnauts off their paddle boards, which necessarily lead to a head stand competition.

Embrace Exploration

After a clear winner was declared, Trent, Vivian, Markus, and I decided to explore the island. So, we took our paddle boards, and we traveled to the corner of the island to investigate. We found a magical alcove, whirlpools brimming with life, an octopus, and a beached coral sample we brought with us back to the resort. 

Eagle Rays for a Visit

That night we sat along the docks, shining flashlights into the water to try to attract plankton, which in turn attracted eagle rays. Out of all this activity, my favorite part was finding the octopus in the tidepools.

Day 1 - Travel and Arrival of SCUBAnauts International

Honduras: Not a Quick Stop

Our trip to Cayos Cochinos, Honduras, began early in the morning with a 4-hour drive to the Miami airport. We had two groups meeting there, one coming from Tampa, the other from Key West, driving from the SCUBAnauts’ annual trip to the Mote coral research facility. This long drive was followed by a 2-hour flight then a 3-hour bus ride. We spent the night in a hotel in La Ceiba called Gran Hotel Paris. The A in Paris was replaced with a tiny Eiffel Tower.

Prepped and Ready to Dive

The first full day of the SCUBAnauts’ Honduras 2019 trip was a success. The day started on the mainland where we ate breakfast and strapped our gear into a trailer. From the hotel we headed to the marina. Again, we loaded gear and people into two boats, and we set off. The boat ride was bumpy and exciting, taking us to Turtle Bay Resort where we will spend the next five days. When we landed on the island, we were greeted by crystal clear water, tall palm trees, and a mountainous landscape. After getting settled into our rooms, including mosquito battle preparations, it was time for a checkout dive. Our divemaster briefed us on our dive plan, then we went into action.

Turtle Bay Teems with Life

Underwater was even more beautiful than above the water. We’d been told there are not very many sharks in this area, but immediately upon descent we found a small nurse shark, which our divemaster told us was likely about a week old. We spent the next sixty-five minutes swimming around the reef that is located close to the island. The reef itself had very high relief, which means the highest part of the reef was shallow, about five feet, and the sandy area around the reef was deeper, about twenty-five feet. We swam along the “wall”, looking into holes, under ledges, and around corals to see fish, lobsters, and other invertebrates, such as a strand of small jellyfish all connected to each other. My favorite part of the dive was seeing all the corals and fish interact with each other. From small damselfish hiding out in the branches of coral, to large parrotfish looking for their meals, the whole reef was alive, and we were only a few hundred feet offshore. Successful certainly describes our first day in Honduras.