2018

First we stopped at NELHA (Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii of Authority) and learned about conservation efforts such as OTEC (Ocean Energy Thermal Conversion). OTEC works by using warm surface sea water, cold deep sea water, and ammonia. The warm surface sea water boils the ammonia because it has a low boiling point, capturing the gas of boiling ammonia...

We started this day by visiting the NELHA facility. NEHLA stands for the Natural Energy Laboratory Hawaii Authority. This group does community service and nonprofit events, but primarily focuses on OTEC (Ocean Thermal Energy Conservation). We learned that OTEC leaves no carbon footprint and is the largest source of seawater energy production in the world. After that we visited the...

Today we started off the day by going to NELHA and learning about conservation and research efforts unique to Kona. One such example was the OTEC, use of cold deep water and surface water from the pelagic zone close to Kona's shore to create energy using the re-boiling of ammonia through a closed system. By boiling the ammonia using...

Today was slightly different from yesterday, there was more water involved. Like most days I received an amazing breakfast after waking. Though this time I left the house early and immediately headed to the scuba diving location. Once arriving I was put into a group with my friends and then my group and I were fitted. When we were...

In the morning we were given the chance to visit the Ocean Conservation Center in order to learn more about ocean based power. We learned about Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) and saw what one of the power conversion plants looks like. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion is a renewable energy conversion source which uses both warm and cold saltwater...

Tuesday 24, 2018 Our group visited the NELHA ocean conservation center to begin our first day of exploration in Kona, Hawaii. Candee, our guide and educator in ocean technology and conservation efforts, presented a type of marine based energy called OTEC, or Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion. OTEC at its base uses the difference in temperatures in the water to heat...

Today was our first open water dive of the week. It was very exciting to see the different lava formations in the water. Hawaii's diving is super unique because of the lava rock in the coral reefs. We went to two locations each having its own type of lava formations. The first location was a large lava tube and...

Today we went on our first dive as a group. I dove on the first tank and snorkeled on the second. Afterward, we had lunch and helped out at the seal rescue hospital by observing the seal's actions for ten minutes. Then we were briefed on what black water diving is and how to do it. Today I learned...

Three points for today: Where to begin? I guess I should start by releasing my inner 5 year old and saw "WE SAW A SHARK!!". That was absolutely amazing, while diving our first dive, we went into a small little cubbyhole in the rocks and sitting there was a white tip reef shark, a member of the cartilaginous species. Secondly,...