Today was one of the most fun and productive days we have had the entire week. We went on two ship wreck dives and did a beach cleanup.
The two dives we went on were called Kittiwake and Doc Paulson, both ship wrecks. Kittiwake was sunk in 2011 and was a submarine rescue boat. It saved one submarine but ironically sunk one too. The control directions on the boat were wired opposite so moving forward would send the boat in reverse and likewise. The boat went backwards knocking into a submarine and when they tried to go forward by speeding up they just went faster backwards sinking the sub. Thankfully the boat was a submarine rescue boat so everyone was rescued. When kittiwake was sunk it was right side up but Hurricane Erma knocked it on its side due to the powerful waves. Doc Paulson was sunk in the 70’s and therefore had a huge variety of see life growing on it compared to kittiwake. In class, we learned that sunken ships can be extremely beneficial to marine ecosystems because it acts almost as a reef. In fact, marine sanctuaries, protected areas in the ocean were fishing, dumping, and other harmful activities are illegal, contain many ship wrecks. For example, a marine sanctuary in California called Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary contains about 26 ship wrecks. These marine sanctuaries allow vast ecosystems to thrive and scientists conduct many research activities in them that benefit marine life. One research opportunity held in Monterey Bay is a technology in which they utilize highly advanced sensors to pinpoint marine life stuck in ocean debris like fishing-line and plastic so that they can track down the marine life and free them. Marine sanctuaries are extremely effective in preserving our highly sensitive marine life ecosystems and habitats.
The beach cleanup was also very fun. We ventured out in groups of 3 with a big trash bag to clean up the shoreline of the Cayman Islands. The main items we found were bottles, bottle caps, fishing line, beer bottles, and other plastics. These plastics are horrible for marine life and can end up killing tons of marine life. Approximately 100,000 marine life creatures die from plastic entanglement every year and about 1 million sea birds die from plastic annually. Plastic is especially dangerous because it takes 450 years to biodegrade. Also this plastic can break down into microscopic particles called nurdles and can be eaten by fish and other sea life. This is horrible for their health and it can work up the food chain when sea creatures eat other sea creatures contaminated by nurdles. This is why the ocean cleanup is extremely important and even the slightest help can save hundreds of sea creatures.
