WK 2: Plankton, Turtles, and Superheroes

Dive groups prepare for descent.

Life on base continues to forge forward at wake breaking speeds. We kicked off week 2 with Monday Turtle Dives and a Plankton Pull (welcome deviations from our coral spot dives). In regards to corals, Friday marked the conclusion of review lectures on the 14 families and 50 genera of hard corals we'll be surveying. And to top it all off, we ended the week with a superhero themed Friday Night BBQ. Despite information overload and the demanding schedule, diving everyday in the company of such inspiring people made it all worth while.

Incidental turtle sightings are logged and recorded (as well as other megafauna), however this data supplements specific behavioral turtle dives conducted weekly within Bay Ternay Marine Park. During these dives, our intent is to identify and record all behavior exhibited during the sighting (e.g. sleeping, swimming, feeding, characteristics, etc.) with an emphasis on feeding and feed types. If a turtle is found, we follow it for as long as possible, creating valuable data into feeding and behavioral habits. With the data we collect, we aim to fill the gap in knowledge of marine turtle feeding ecology.

Listening intently to the skipper's brief.

Usually, Turtle Dives are conducted on Wednesdays, but due to unfavorable tides we started off the week in search of turtles instead. These dives were conducted in buddy pairs across the bay. Each set of divers swam off in a U-pattern, zig-zagging back and forth toward a set bearing in hopes of crossing paths with a turtle. Though my buddy and I were not so lucky in our quest for the elusive turtle, other divers were able to find and follow both hawksbill and green turtles for a considerable amount of time- beaming with pride and joy that was shared by all of us when they shared the news.

But this week our turtle experience wasn't confined to underwater monitoring. The next day, a local man brought up three baby hawksbill turtles from the beach to the base. The hatchlings were taken inside and looked after, while the rest of the base raced down to the beach in hopes of finding the nest or more hatchlings. Despite the enthusiastic search, no more turtles or tracks were found- we think that the rising tide swept a few hatchlings to shore from an inaccessible shoreline in the bay. So, we waited for the tide to go out and set the hatchlings on their way to the open ocean at dusk- hoping and praying that one day they'd return to the bay as adults.

We conduct weekly plankton collections outside Bay Ternay Marine Park in the Conception channel to assist Marine Conservation Society Seychelles' (MCSS) on-going whale shark monitoring program. At 5 separate GPS marked locations within the channel, we tow and retrieve a plankton net through the water at set depths down to 50 meters. The samples we collect provide MCSS with information about plankton blooms, productivity levels, and species presence. This data is incredibly valuable in studying the seasonal occurrence and population abundance of whale sharks within Seychelles coastal waters. So of course, I was ecstatic to go out and give the plankton pull a try...

If only my enthusiasm could have had a more direct influence on my endurance. The net retrieval was much easier said than done. After my 2 minute pull, my arms had had enough plankton for the week. That being said, if I'm ever on another plankton pull, I will do my darndest to pull the line in faster, even if just by a second- can't let microscopic plankton get the best of me!

A view of base: so fresh and so clean, clean.

Back on land, Latin names surged around everyone's heads as we did our best to keep afloat in the sea of new terminology. Now that we've finished reviews, it's up to each individual to familiarize him or herself with every coral's key features for efficient identification underwater. It's was easy to become overwhelmed on land- the Latin names, the dubious photo-flashcards, and self-doubt easily stressed out even the most grounded person. But it all seemed to come together (for the most part) when we went underwater for our coral spots. Sure, every now and again, genera names got mixed up or we just felt like our heads were filled with water; but we've truly made incredible progress from day one of our coral studies.

Superheroes gather for a super satisfying Friday BBQ.

Feeling heroic (and a tad bit exhausted) after the week's endeavors, the Superhero themed BBQ was a great success! Food and company were extraordinary. Tasty ribs, burgers, and sausages as well as sweet chili, lentil burgers, and roasted vegetables filled the bellies of superheroes and "super-selves" alike. Bed sheets, discarded clothing, and the like served as superhero flair as we all ate the week's most satisfying meal. It was a BBQ that would have leaped off the pages of a comic book with a satisfying "POW"!