The Sea of Abaco: Day 1
Today dawned with everyone still jetlagged, but super excited for the adventures that were planned. There were lots of tasks to be accomplished and these were approached with the divide and conquer method. Team 1 was comprised of Prof. Janik, Grace, India, Jasmine and Sari while Team 2 was comprised of Dr. Oswald, Emily, Le’Andra, Rosie and Tristan. After taking swim tests, everyone had the opportunity to finally meet Diane Claridge and Charlotte Dunn of the Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organization. Afterwards, Team 1 went to handle the grocery shopping, while Team 2 took the first shift to begin field work.
While in the harbor, Team 1 encountered an 8-foot bull shark which was the first physical shark sighting for Emily, Rosie and Tristan. We continued on to the Sandy Cay reef where Diane and Charlotte placed a hydrophone on the reef for some research that they are undertaking. The team members had an opportunity to snorkel in the warm, turquoise water where they encountered a Caribbean reef shark, barracudas, a stingray and a wide variety of other aquatic life.
Team 2 undertook the task of grocery shopping. During this time, they were able to rub shoulders with the locals and explore brands that are not normally found in the UK. Team 2 also had an opportunity to go on the boat and were lucky enough to see some turtles.
The day ended with Tristan and India preparing a lovely dinner for everyone. Most people retired early to sleep off the remaining jetlag and excess exhaustion from the adventures of today. No one had luck spotting any dolphins today, but we are hoping that tomorrow takes a more positive turn.
Written by Le’Andra Mackey (University of The Bahamas)
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- Team 2 stand proudly in their matching yellow rashguards. Not only are they a fashion statement, they make us easy to spot whilst in the crystalline water.
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- A snapshot of the huge new supermarket on Abaco. Here, we meandered through the entire store, shopping list and trolleys in hand.
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- The hydrophone that was deployed at Sandy Cay reef. It’s attached to a concrete block to secure it to the sea floor.
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- The beach where both teams conducted their swim tests. Although the shore was lined with rubble from Dorian, the crystalline waters were inviting.
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- Tristan, Emily, and Rosie doing their swim test and snorkelling at Mermaid Reef. We plan to return to this reef to snorkel all together.
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- A parrotfish spotted amongst the coral at Sandy Cay reef. A small glimpse at the diverse wildlife that calls this reef home.
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- A view of the sunset to the north of Abaco. A beautiful end to our first day of fieldwork.
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- A view of the sunset from Marsh Harbour, just before we headed home after a long day of dolphin searching.
