Day 11 of living the barefoot life

Yes, it is true, since being on the island, I have only worn shoes twice for the hikes. I am very much enjoying being able to free the dogs every day. Last night it rained for the first time, and we learned that when it rains, it pours. Before going to bed, Katie and I were on the dock watching lightning over one of the neighboring islands. During the brief periods of darkness between strikes, we could see many bioluminescent worms in the water. The electricity turned off fairly early last night, around 9pm, but we were still able to go to sleep. We awoke to torrential downpour bouncing off the metal roofs. It was a beautiful sound and the best part was the cool breeze that picked up and traveled through the cabin. Luckily no one's roof leaked so we all woke up dry. 

Yesterday Katie and I dove again, this time at Pelican Point, a part of the reef wall. As soon as we descended we were just surrounded by blue water. We followed the reef wall for awhile and saw a very large barracuda. The enormity of the wall and the expanse of sea below and to the sides of us made us feel like aliens. Instead of staying in one place for our safety stop on the way up, we swam around some of the shallower corals on top of the wall. It is my goal to bring one of the class gopros next time we dive, so I can have some more underwater photos. 

Today there are many tourists at the resort - weird to say because we are tourists ourselves but there are groups who come for the day to swim and eat lunch. That didn't stop us from continuing lectures - today's topic was the mollusks. Not only did we learn about the biology of the phylum, but we also discussed their important roles in architecture and history. Many Native American tribes in Florida specifically ate mollusks and used the shells for decoration or tools and weapons. Being able to learn about these ocean organisms and processes and then go and study them a few feet away in their natural habitat is an incredible experience that I will carry with me for my whole life. 

High tide or low tide? It luckily doesn't matter here because the difference is less than a foot!!

Sunrises, Research, and Diving

 The past few days have continued along the theme of our adventure being incredible. 

The best of our shenanigans has absolutely been diving(!!!!) We got to go on on two dives today, one on the same reef we've been snorkeling, and one in quite possibly the most beautiful place I've ever been - Lion's Head. Our first dive was a nice little refresher, 45 minutes to a depth of 24ft, allowing us to get used diving as a group who haven't dove together and get used to our dive master (who was also really great, go Henry). The second dive was where the real fun was though. We loaded our gear into the boat, and man, for my first boat dive, this was a crazy one. Rather than being a fancy dive boat meant to hold tanks at a perfect place, with easy ways to get in and out of the water, it was the same boat we came to the island on. Check out the pictures to get a better idea of what I mean. Once we fell into the water, I was in awe. I mean, holy cow, I have never seen water that blue. The visibility was so good, all the way down to our max depth of 55ft. We were under for over an hour, and with the joys of the Caribbean, never once got the slightest bit cold. We had such an amazing time, definitely a highlight moment of the trip.

Our dive site

Our ride

Why do scuba divers fall off the boat backwards?

Because if they fell forward they’d still be in the boat!

Cheesing

Feesh

Invasive lion fish

Between our dives, as we tend to do, Isabelle and I got up to some nonsense, and did our laundry.  Now that doesn't sound too bad, except we hand washed them. In our shower. But hey, they're clean and now we smell a little bit less.

We’re professionals 

We've had some other fun events since my last post, including snorkeling at sunrise, another night snorkel, and beginning to work on our research projects. My project has, so far, involved a whole lot of laying transects, which have had Isabelle and I in the water for like 5 hours while I find the right spots, set my flags, conduct habitat assessments, and count a whole bunch of sea urchins. I mean, a whole bunch, like 50+ along one 15m transect. 

Habitat assessments

Science

A hunting reef octopus reaches for prey

It nets over whatever it found

And begins to eat

Peppermint skrimp

Sunrise from the water

Another little yellow ray, we see a bunch of these guys!

Diving Day

 Katie, Isabelle and I went out for diving today.

It was my first time diving in about two years, so it felt like I was new at it. 

Lion's head was one of the location we went to, and immediately as descent i found one Lempira in the sand. 

The reef was massive, from the bottom it was like looking at a mountain.

This dive was by far the most amazing one, the reefs formed beautiful structures and littles caves.

We also found a perfect molt of a crab.

The Perfect Day in Honduras

 You'll never guess what we did today.... we went scuba diving!!!

First, a little backstory because we have been waiting to dive for awhile. Since being in Honduras and on Cayo Mayor, we have learned very extensively the meaning of "island time". This means something will be done, just not today. Because of this, we have learned to be patient. We had been hoping to dive on Sunday, then Monday, however because of island time we were able to dive today!!

We woke up same as usual and ate some delicious baleadas and orange juice for breakfast. Then, Katie, Erika and I suited up and got ready. We went out with Henry, a dive master from Utila. On our first dive we jumped straight off the dock and explored the reef near the resort. The first thing we found was a starfish!! Unfortunately this dive I did have a leaky BCD, so I was emptying a lot of air in order to stay at depth. Other than that however it was a relatively short and very pleasant dive. Once we surfaced and made plans for our second dive, Katie and I did our laundry. 

Laundry was its own adventure and in my opinion quite fun. After we had chosen what most needed cleaning, we turned the shower on and proceeded to soak the clothes. Once thoroughly rinsed, we hand scrubbed them together before rinsing them and hanging them out to dry in the sun. Though they are not as soft as clothing from a drier, they are clean and dry :)

After our brief clothing stint we got on the boat with our gear (and a new BCD for me) and drove to Lion's Head, a huge mountain of coral. This was my first boat dive and it went extremely well. The water was crystalline blue - like the dyed blue water in a mini golf course. Once everyone was ready we descended into the beautiful mountains of coral. We slowly made our way through, eventually going down to 55 feet. The water was so clear we could see all the way up to the surface and everything around us, even so deep. Our dive-lights that we brought proved useless. After turning around and making our way back, we were continually amazed by the diversity and bounty of coral, fish and sponges. We saw a lionfish - impressive but very invasive. We also saw some very large lobsters as well as a big school of some sort of Caribbean blue fish. After our safety stop we climbed back into the boat - made easier by a ladder and enjoyed the ride back to the island. We had a quick debrief before eating lunch. 

In the afternoon, Katie and I laid transects for her project, spending another two hours in the water! Dinner was some scrumptious empanadas that hit everyone's spot. Please look at Katie's imminent post for lots of photos.

Joke: Why do scuba divers fall backwards when the fall from the boat?

Answer: Because if they fell forward the would still be in the boat :)

The World Below the Waves

I have had some, predictably, very eventful days here on the island and out in the water.

A few days ago, I got the opportunity to dive with a GoPro loaned to me by Dr. Gilchrist. I was able to take pictures of some of the things I saw underwater. One shot came out quite well, I thought.

(To be honest, I cannot remember the name of this yellow fish. It does look handsome in this shot, though!)

I was led to the den of a beautiful yellow and black eel by Dr. Wassink, although I was unable to get close enough to capture a decent picture. I will never forget the shock of seeing it with its head out of its den, opening and closing its fearsome mouth rhythmically as it seemed to look at me with bemusement.

We learned that day how difficult it is to perform a seemingly simple survey of a 5m by 5m quadrant underwater using only a few flags and our inexperienced wits while we fought rather choppy water.

After that experience, I began playing around with the camera, and spotted the strangest fish I had ever seen. It seemed to change color depending on whether or not it was swimming away from me in fear or hovering in one spot.

The "mystery fish" at rest.

The "mystery fish" doing its best to get away from me. (Sorry, fish!)

I couldn’t help myself, and chased the fish, gathering as much video footage of its strange display as I could. I had hoped to identify it once on dry land and with access to my professors and the internet, but I have yet to identify this fish. It doesn’t seem to be listed in any of the “common fish of the Bay Islands” literature I have looked through so far. So, at the very least, it doesn’t seem to be a particularly common fish to see, here. I am determined to find out what it was, however.

Last night, I got a treat of invertebrate displays by two different cephalopods common to this area. I witnessed baby Caribbean reef squid (Sepioteuthis sepioidea) feeding on juvenile fish near the dock after dark and managed to get video of it on my camera. But the real treat came later, when two students (Isabelle and Katie) who were in the water found a Caribbean reef octopus (Octopus briareus) and we were able to watch it hunting from the dock. It wasn’t ideal – I’d have vastly preferred to be in the water when I saw it – however it was incredible to see. It changed to a bright white in response to the two snorkeling swimmers and their dive lights shining on it, yet this did not appear to stop it from hunting.

Tonight, I am hoping to get into the water and see the beautiful creature in its world under the waves instead of above them.

(Note: this was written yesterday afternoon, but do to scheduling and lack of access to the wifi I was unable to post it yesterday.)

Creatures of the night

 Throughout our night snorkel adventures and walking around at night, there are quite a few creatures we have seen. So far while night snorkeling, we have seen many Caribbean reef squid who like to eat the bugs attracted by our lights. There is also a reef octopus that comes out and likes to feed. It doesn't seem too bothered by Katie or my lights. The octopus feeds in the sea grass, and when it finds prey, it spreads its tentacles and a white skin covers the tentacles. It is very interesting to watch, however the little fish are attracted to the lights we hold - and they like to bite. Last night Katie was chased by a very very large lobster. At night is when we see the stingrays as well. We have seen yellow rays, and possibly a Caribbean whip tail ray. 

On land, we have seen many more critters. Night is when the land crabs come out, and they scuttle across our path. We have also seen cockroaches and scorpions. While cockroaches in the US are usually bad news, here they help process waste on the island are important for the ecosystem. Because they have so many places to go outside, we are not bothered inside. We were also warned about checking for spiders in our shoes, however I have not found any yet. There are many geckos that like to chirp at us for bothering us when we are inside. 

                                                                                Squid!!!

                                                                             Night crab

                                                                         Another one!!

                                                                             A cockroach

                                                                       And a scorpion!!!

Officially week one

 It has been officially one week since leaving home, I really wish I can get my hands on a Frosty from Wendys. My old , almost 10 yr old mac laptop refuses to connect to the wifi now, so I guess I have rely on only my phone for the next two weeks.. So that’s just wonderful… excuse any typos moving forward.

I finally spotted an eagle ray! 

The dock seems to be where the Caribbean squid fish like to hangout. I find the to be fascinating and adorable little creatures.

Looks like I can longer post any pictures because I can’t figure out how to through my phone. ☹️

Honduras Day 7: We almost got hit by a coconut!!

 Yes, it is true. Katie and I were enjoying our evening sunset-watching and heard a thunk. A coconut had fallen out of the tree and cracked open. We cracked it open, but unfortunately it wasn't good to eat. We then moved our chairs, so we didn't get brained by a coconut.

It seems like we haven't been here very long, but it has already been a week. This morning Dr Wassink, Erika and I hiked across the island to a lighthouse. The trail was pretty well marked, however we did do some bushwhacking. The lighthouse is very old, so we couldn't climb it. The design was very similar to the classic US lighthouses that I am used to seeing in Maine. On our way back we saw a land crab (very common here) that used a bottle cap as its shell. 

Though today was a rest day, we had a short lecture on worms - I learned that leeches can occur not only in freshwater, but in salt water and on land! Personally this was horrifying to hear... Other than that, however I love the worms. My favorite so far that we have found are the Christmas tree worms - they look exactly like a Christmas tree and even come in different colors.

                                                                 The crab, with its shell :)

                                                            The lighthouse in bad lighting

Riotous Life Surrounds Us

 

These first few days on the island were very exciting. What time I have spent out in the water (I had gotten a little sick and was unable to snorkel as much as I’d liked to, in addition to my personal gear failing spectacularly) has been incredible. I’ve seen octopus dens, juvenile barracuda, needle fish, and found a species of polychaete worm from a family I’d never heard of call Terebellidaem (commonly called “spaghetti worms”.) 

("Spaghetti Worm" tentacles)

Their bodies stay hidden in a den while long, white tentacles are cast out over the sand like fishing line. They have no stinging cells. The tentacles catch organic debris which sticks to it, and the worm slowly pulls the tentacles in and eats what has stuck to its tentacles. They were truly alien and unsettling in a way I found thrilling. I also saw sting rays shuffling through the sand on the bottom of the shallows near the shore and many crabs, mainly blue land crabs.

I was able to briefly snorkel at night before my gear failed me. It was a little intimidating and spooky, underwater with only the dive light’s narrow beam to see by. When life would enter the light and come into view it was very surprising and exhilarating.

On the island herself, I saw several iguanas, the larger of which let me approach surprisingly close.

(This seems to be one of the smaller of the black-chested, spiny-tailed iguana on the island)

I’ve heard the calls of many birds, however, the only birds that seem inclined to be seen are primarily some kind of grackle and a species of dove/pigeon. I have seen a few lovely, black hummingbirds as well, but only for a few, fleeting moments before they rocket off again in search of better places to feed.

There are also, of course, the very loud and annoyed geckos, which scold us from the rafters of the buildings - informing us that we are in their homes, not the other way around.

The beauty of this place is almost too intense to seem real. There is so much biodiversity it is difficult to keep track of everything I have seen. Everywhere I look, there is vibrant, enthusiastic life. It overwhelms the senses a bit.

The people who run the resort, who are also Garifuna, have been lovely to us. As I understand it, the current manager is the first Garifuna person to have this position, which breaks a lot of the racist norms of the area. I was pleased to learn this, and I hope he is able to do well and prosper in this role. The people here have been very generous and eager to make our stay as comfortable as possible. They are limited by what can be provided in this remote place, but they have managed better than I would have expected.

It has taken me a little while to fall into a routine which suits me. I am quite a bit older than the other students and find it more difficult to keep up with them. However, I am beginning to find I am able to work around the limitations of my body and still get the most out of the activities available to us.

I have deeply enjoyed the lectures from Dr. Gilchrist, but then I knew I would, as I had her for Coastal Processes in the spring. She is extraordinarily knowledgeable of the area – even given that she has been coming here for 37 years. She is a font of knowledge, of things both in and out of the realm of the water, and I am eager to learn from her in the days and weeks to come.

You'll NEVER Believe What We Saw (NOT CLICKBAIT!!!) This Will BLOW YOUR MIND!!!!!

The past few days have been full of hours of snorkeling, delicious meals, a few special activities, and a whole lot of heat. Seriously, it is crazy hot here, but all that's doing is just encouraging us to spend more time in the water. We've seen some great things in the past few days, so definitely check out the pictures.

Munching mullet

Sea cucumber mouth (and buttocks)

Smooth trunkfish

Eye contact with an octopus

Peacock flounder

Some urchins wear hats, others wear rocks

Caribbean reef squid in formation

We had our first lecture a couple days ago, discussing the phylum's Porifera and Cnidaria, who's members of focus for us include sponges and corals. We had a great discussion about the simplicity or complexity of sponges, and whether they should be considered animals or colonies. The answer is, it's complicated! Sponges may not have organs or organ systems or the ability for thought, which leads many to say they're simple, but they have abilities that many organisms that are considered complex, such as humans, don't have, like the ability to regenerate from a single cell, or to differentiate and undifferentiate their cells. 

Yesterday we had two awesome activities, the first of which was a hike around the island to the Garifuna village. This hike was a bit crazy and very fun. We trekked up and down steep hills, scrambled across rocks faces, and nearly rock climbed at some points. We even had a very sweet puppy join us for a good portion of the hike! When we reached the village, we went and talked with some of the local school children. Thank god we had Isabelle with us, as she was able to translate and help us converse. We talked to them about what we were doing on the island and how we're studying marine biology, then gave them some gifts to say thank you for talking to us and having us on their island.

10/10 hiking buddy

Trail? What trail?

Last night was the second of our awesome activities, as we did a night snorkel. We had an awesome time swimming around somewhat blindly, and the highlight was definitely seeing not one, not two, but three super unique, incredibly cool, fantastically amazing animals. Are you ready? We saw: 1. baby lesser electric rays, 2. yellow sting rays, and 3. an octopus hunting!! Seriously, take a look at the photos and video below, it was awesome.

A football! (Porcupine fish)

Yellow stingray

Wee baby lesser electric rays

Octopus!!

Look at him go