2018

On day six of our trip, we participated in a large beach clean up to help give back to the local community. At the service site, we began by having a contest to see who could pick up the most trash. During this portion, I had the ability to learn about the different types of trash (marine debris versus...

This morning we got to sleep in and then tour some different fish farms by NELHA. We learned how efficient and important fish farms are to the world. We learned that a lot of people in the world rely on some type of seafood as their only food to eat. With a growing population that will increase by around...

I'm most excited for our nighttime dive with the manta rays. I've never gone scuba diving outside of the learning course, and I'm ready to dive in Hawaii. I've seen a video of the nighttime dive before, and I'm super stoked to experience it. (Manta Ray)

Today was our third day in Hawaii, and our first time scuba diving! We began our day very early in the morning, and left our cabins at around 7:15. We did a 2 tank dive, and the water was very pleasant, meaning that it wasn't cold at the bottom. Our first dive we went to Suck Em Up, and...

I woke kind of late so I was rushed through breakfast and packing. But once I was on the same page with everyone we were heading back to NELHA. At NELHA we received a grand tour of how the air conditioning worked. My first specific topic is how the A/C worked which basically ran deep sea water in tiny...

Today was a very action packed day. We first went to NELHA, which is an organization that specializes in OTEC and other technologies. Then we went to a local school based around marine life. The school is very unique because the students learn by creating projects. The projects include efficient energy proposals, which are so close to a real...

Yesterday we traversed 14,000 feet high to the top of Mauna Kea. We didn't hike the volcano like the original settlers, however I still felt the effects of the high altitude on my body. We started our journey in Kona where the van picked us up. Jeff, our driver and teacher, educated us about the origins of the islands...

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...

Day 3, the most action packed and exciting day on the trip so far. The day began bright and early with a two tank dive. This was personally my first dive in the open ocean and it brought new surprises. The ability to see around 100 feet under water was something I have never experienced. During the dives, I...