WK 6: Life is not what you look at, it is what you Sea

Port Luanay, Mahe, Seychelles

There's something that lures the soul to the water's edge and dares us to take the plunge. The young heed the call, tumbling in with boundless energy while those wizened by the tide's constant ebb and flow content themselves harmonizing their thoughts to the breaking waves. There's something here for everyone, from all walks and cross-sections of life. Should you wish for solace, adventure, fun- and anything in between- you'll find it here.

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Routine was set in motion as the new 5 weekers integrated themselves into daily life on base. I continued conducting Coral Diversity Belts in and around Baie Ternay and completed my first LIT/Invert survey as well. In addition to learning all the new faces on base and monitoring reefs, I had the opportunity to participate in community work with the International School Seychelles and the President's Village Orphanage in Port Luanay. It was truly a welcome homecoming after the extended weekend.

Coral Diversity Belt survey with Meg

Staff, divemaster interns and 10 weekers facilitated a near flawless transition for the 6 new 5 weekers. The energy has definitely shifted, though it is a welcome change. If life were stagnant, it would cease to be, such is the way of the world and it is no different here. Every one's talents and life experiences are truly appreciated and both new and old expedition members are working hard.

Surveying around the bay continues to retain its excitement. I've completed Coral Diversity Belts at a number of sites this past week with my buddy, Adam. Together, we tackled the surface surge and descended into tricky crevices in search of elusive coral colonies. Extending my aquatic gaze beyond coral, I conducted my first LIT/Invert Survey this past week as well. During these surveys, buddy pairs utilise their respective methodology specialties, benthic or invertebrate organisms. As the invert diver, I tailed my benthic buddy, Will, as we scoured the substrate around our 10 meter line. Despite having much less area to cover, these LIT surveys require sustained focus on minute details and sequestered organisms. Completing the coral diversity belt and LIT surveys has been fun work and extremely fulfilling after hours of study!

ISS and our Love Fish at Port Luanay

Community work punctuated the week with a lesson at on the beach with children from International School Seychelles on Monday. The day's lesson topic was marine adaptations. The children were divided into three groups where myself and other expedition members did our best to retain our 4th graders' attentions as we sat meters from Port Luanay's pristine waters. Once the lesson was completed, each group created a new marine creature utilizing the adaptions taught that day. My group created the most dangerous creature known to all mankind- the love fish. We were warned by the children to be very careful, as its 21 tentacles could ensnare you! Thoroughly amused by all the children's creations, we celebrated the morning's lesson with a few games on the beach before we said our goodbyes.

Snorkel Day with President's Village Orphanage

Friday morning, I returned to Port Luanay for a morning snorkel with children from President's Village Orphanage. There were about 30 girls and boys, ages ranging from 7-11 years old. They arrived and approached timidly, eyeing the snorkel gear with excitement in their eyes. After a brief introduction, the children rushed to fit themselves with masks and fins while others went straight for the beach raft and boogie board. The children were absolutely enthralled with a day on the beach, but even more so by the individual attention garnered. By the end of the morning, a few youngsters had attached themselves to particular expedition members. Cookies and snorkel log books were handed out to the children as parting gifts until our next snorkel day.

Curiously enough, this past week was more refreshing than my extended weekend. The new 5 weekers, surveying sites, and the community work filled the days with vitality and a sense of purpose. Granted, the day-to-day routine laid the foundation, but each day we've been building upon it, creating something beautiful here- life as we live and breathe and dive. It's the end of week 6, though I feel I've been here months, just arriving yesterday...