Teddy Wagner '18

Starting with last night, we finished day five with a night snorkel in the bay of the hotel beach. I partnered up with Mr. Marr, and, with flashlights, we scanned the sea floor, finding a lobster, several tarpon, a crab, and a sleeping parrot fish camouflaged in its mucus wrap. However, my favorite part of the snorkel was when...

Finally finished with all our research, we were granted a day of relaxing recreational dives. The dive staff initially planned for two dives at the Wreck of the Rhone, a 300-foot long vessel that sunk on October 29th, 1867, but we had to do the first dive in a separate location due to a ripping current. We ended up...

Adding on to the research done yesterday, our first dive today was at Ginger's Backside. During our first test, I spotted a viscous-looking lion fish camped in a cavern right next to a 3-foot long barracuda. On the second dive, we dove about 35 feet down to a gorgeous reef encircling a towering rock that just barely broke the...

Today the real work began. We set bright and early to begin our first research dive. Aiming for George Dog Island, we ended up diving at a different spot due to a vicious current. We ended up staying under for about 50 minutes because we were diving in shallower water, about 25 feet. During the dive, we quickly found...

Today began with delicious sausage and eggs prepared by the teachers. Around eight o'clock, the group traveled down to the commissary for a brief lecture on the history of sea turtle conservation and protection given by the brilliant Dr. Gore. The Sea Monkey crew left to try to catch turtles first while our far superior group, set out to...

The first day of the marine biology trip has already surpassed all of my expectations. The sun was already up when I woke up around 5:45. After a quick briefing of hotel rules, the group set out for the docks to eat breakfast and prepare for our dives. On the way out to our first dive site, our vessel,...

Hello, I am Teddy Wagner. During my marine biology experience, I am most excited for the ability to dive and research in a place I have never been before, as well as the opportunity to become closer to some of my Jesuit brothers.