Today felt like I woke up underwater since our day began with an early dive. Our first dive was at Salt Island, where we explored a shipwreck that had been integrated into the reef. The reef was inhabited by parrotfish, box fish, barrel sponges, flamingo tongues, and a variety of other organisms.
The second dive was at Cooper’s Island in a reef known as Chromis Reef. It’s named after the abundance of a fish species called blue chromis. We practiced identifying and recording the different species of animals throughout the reef. I mostly spotted parrotfish and butterflyfish but things started to get confusing after awhile because I felt that I was recording the same individual fish twice. There was also a tarpon (a long silver fish that looks somewhat similar to a barracuda) but I think I only managed to catch a glimpse of it swimming away.
Afterwards, we went and had lunch on the island: french fries and fish sticks(?). When we finished, we spent a little time on the beach playing “football” with a coconut and went snorkeling shortly after. I spotted stingrays, snappers, and needlefish but had difficulty taking pictures. There was one moment where I was surrounding by a huge school of tiny fish! As I ventured towards the reef, Mr. Kirby spotted a lion fish (an invasive species). It was captured shortly after by Casey (one of our staff members) and brought to the surface. The fish was significantly smaller than what it appeared to be below the surface and it was dissected to see the contents of its stomach. It fortunately had not captured anything prior to capture (they’ve been known to “slurp up” indigenous species as big as themselves). I should have some photos of it to show back home if the camera I currently have didn’t get mixed up with someone else’s. I haven’t been lucky when it comes to spotting animals I want to see. I tend to be in the wrong place at the wrong time because many of my fellow divers report spotting barracudas, eagle rays, and even a sea turtle!
We finished up our night once again at Mad Dog’s for our true Mexican night (there was apparently a miscommunication about last night’s dinner, which was our Carribean night). Anyways, after we had our fill of quesadillas and nachos, we took many pictures in the sunset, on the hammock, and among the boulders. It was quite enjoyable.
Tomorrow we’ll have another two-tank dive. Let’s see if I can get some good pictures in tomorow!
P.S., the island we went to on Tuesday was not the same island we went to on Monday. Sorry about that!
