Lights Out 🌙✨🪐👻

Dear adoring fans, 

We started our day drenched in sweat and coconut oil after a long night of fighting the bugs and the demons. We headed to a delectable French toast breakfast, complete with orange juice. Then the worst happened: Eric and Marika left us. They’re now headed back to their clean, bug-free homes as we remain in the trenches. 

Then, the group split to work on our research projects. One group, composed of Cooper, Abby, Zoe, and Kennedy headed to the pipe to observe the grazing patterns of damselfish. They will continue tomorrow, observing the fish every 2 hours. Another group, Shannon, Francine, and Sophia, went to Graham’s Harbor to do transects of the lithified sand reef there, in order to count the abundance and richness of reef fish. Another group, Kailee, Morgan, and Toby, headed to Rocky Point for sand samples to look for meiofauna in high, mid, and low tide. Later analysis showed many nemotodes and copepods. The final group, Madi, Logan, Paola, completed 6 transects at Rocky Point to count seafans and flamingo tongues. They report their data collection as successful. 

Kailee with weight belt, ready to collect meiofauna samples. 

We reconvened for lunch, for one of our favorite meals of burgers and fries. One unnamed individual broke her vegetarianism in order to take part (not Shannon). 

After lunch, the class met as a group to update Mike on our research projects. He had his dawgs out during class which made many uncomfy. Island Mike was present with full force.  

In the afternoon, many entered a comatose-like-state, uninfluenced by Benadryl, for some much needed rest, while others continued their work. 

Madi, very focused on scientific research.

Once risen from the dead, we lined up for dinner to be eaten by no-see-ums (their dinner time too). We enjoyed pork, potatoes, beets, coleslaw, and purple drink. But there was a subtle anxiety in the air, as we anxiously awaited our upcoming night snorkel. We got our gear and headed to the classroom, where Mike gave us a laundry list of all the potential dangers that lurk in the water, which intensified our fear (see below). 

Morgan and Paola question the choices that have led them here. 

Kennedy decided to be our eyes from above as she watched from the dock with a flashlight to warn of any dangers. With dive lights in hand, swim buddies together, and panic attacks being fought off, we all entered the water. We saw many wonders such as: lionfish, sea turtle, boxfish, glassfish, and the infamous box jelly (should we kill it in Shannon’s honor? Comment your thoughts below) 

Sea Anemone under black light. 

Boxfish. 

Lionfish (almost got Logan). 

Box jelly 

Despite the anxieties, we all enjoyed the night snorkel. Though it was cold and disorienting, we all seem to be looking forward to our next nighttime adventure. Then began the race back to Gerace for the girls to fight for the ‘good’ showers. 

Now, finally clean after a long, hard day, some are playing card games in the lab, while others pop Benadryl and get into bed for the night. 

Over and Out, 

Cooper and Shannon