{"id":8841,"date":"2017-06-28T17:44:34","date_gmt":"2017-06-28T16:44:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/?p=8841"},"modified":"2017-06-28T17:44:34","modified_gmt":"2017-06-28T16:44:34","slug":"morning-sand-salt-science","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/morning-sand-salt-science\/","title":{"rendered":"A morning of sand, salt and science"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beep. Beep. Beep. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My phone alarm blared, disrupting my deep slumber. 5:45 AM. Time for the day to begin. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I peeked out of my protective sand-fly net from my location on the top bunk in our little wooden cabana. Darkness consumed Bacalar Chico Dive Camp; however, I could see shadowed figures flitting across the sand between the cabanas and The Alcove where the dive gear is kept. The sounds of metal pinging and plastic clips fastening punctuated the otherwise peaceful morning, and indicated that it was time to assemble my own equipment in preparation for the 6:30 AM dive. I tiptoed down the bunk bed ladder to join the other volunteers.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_8842\" style=\"width: 1090px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8842\" class=\"wp-image-8842 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-1.jpg\" alt=\"sunrise bacalar chico dive camp\" width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-1.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-1-87x65.jpg 87w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-1-476x357.jpg 476w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-1-644x483.jpg 644w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-1-300x225.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1080px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1080\/810;\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-8842\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Beautiful morning sunrise over the cabanas! | Photo: Kaesha Freyaldenhoven<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let me tell you a little bit about myself before I continue. I am a 20-year-old college student taking a year out to explore my interests in marine biology and conservation. I am a native Californian and avid beach lover who relishes the feeling of sand between her toes, and is always in search of her next great adventure. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In The Alcove, I gathered my rash vest, BCD (buoyancy control device), regulator, mask and fins. With our equipment ready, the other volunteers and I formed a circle around <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/blueventures.org\/team\/henry-duffy\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Henry<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Blue Ventures\u2019 Field Scientist &#8211; to review the dive objectives. This morning, we were to complete a Lionfish Survey at Goliath Reef.<\/span><\/p>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/morning-sand-salt-science\\\/\"}' class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"900\"><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 354px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 476px; height: 358px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/morning-sand-salt-science\/dcim100goprogopr1900-processed-with-vsco-with-p5-preset\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8843\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-2.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1080,810\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;HERO4 Silver&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;DCIM100GOPROGOPR1900. Processed with VSCO with p5 preset&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1486554286&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Copyright 2017. All rights reserved.&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00714285714286&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;DCIM100GOPROGOPR1900. Processed with VSCO with p5 preset&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"The Alcove\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-2-476x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-2-644x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-2-472x354.jpg\" width=\"472\" height=\"354\" align=\"left\" title=\"The Alcove\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 472px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 472\/354;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Assembling dive gear at The Alcove | Photo: Emma Muench<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 419px; height: 358px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/morning-sand-salt-science\/dcim100goprogopr0015-jpg\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8844\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Liam2.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1080,922\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;HERO5 Black&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;DCIM100GOPROGOPR0015.JPG&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1485600161&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.000555555555556&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;DCIM100GOPROGOPR0015.JPG&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Kaesha\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Liam2-418x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Liam2-566x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Liam2-415x354.jpg\" width=\"415\" height=\"354\" align=\"left\" title=\"Kaesha\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 415px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 415\/354;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Kaesha in her dive gear | Photo: William Healy<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"pull-right\">Find out more about Blue Ventures&#8217; work with <a href=\"http:\/\/explore.blueventures.org\/managing-belizes-lionfish-invasion\">invasive lionfish<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The arrival of invasive lionfish to the Atlantic Ocean in the early 1990s <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/explore.blueventures.org\/managing-belizes-lionfish-invasion\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">severely impacted native fish populations and coral reef ecosystems<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Blue Ventures volunteers collect data on lionfish in the Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve: we evaluate a reef by swimming across a transect and recording the species of fish we see. This data is used to calculate a numerical lionfish threshold\u2014how many lionfish can be sustained by a reef before their presence destroys the ecosystem.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To help limit the lionfish population to this calculated threshold, Blue Ventures is speaking to restaurants, consumers and fishers <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/explore.blueventures.org\/managing-belizes-lionfish-invasion\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to catalyse the growth of the domestic market for lionfish meat<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. These efforts are supplemented by regular lionfish culls and value-adding initiatives such as the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BelizeLionfishJewelry\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Belize Lionfish Jewelry Group<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/morning-sand-salt-science\\\/\"}' class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"900\"><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 313px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 473px; height: 317px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/morning-sand-salt-science\/img_1098\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8846\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/IMG_1098.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1080,721\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Lionfish\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/IMG_1098-535x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/IMG_1098-723x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/IMG_1098-469x313.jpg\" width=\"469\" height=\"313\" align=\"left\" title=\"Lionfish\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 469px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 469\/313;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Photo: Tara Costa-Chambers<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 422px; height: 317px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/morning-sand-salt-science\/fredi4-2\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8848\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Fredi4-2-e1498647788923.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1080,810\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon PowerShot G15&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1488574108&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;6.1&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;125&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.002&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Lionfish Cull\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Fredi4-2-476x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Fredi4-2-644x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Fredi4-2-e1498647788923-418x313.jpg\" width=\"418\" height=\"313\" align=\"left\" title=\"Lionfish Cull\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 418px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 418\/313;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Volunteers participating in a lionfish cull | Photo: Friederike Peiffer<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At 6:25 AM, my seven fellow volunteers and I were ready to make our way along the pier to Colombiano, our beloved dive boat. The sun had just begun to peek through the clouds, rising above the turquoise sea and painting the sky a tangerine wash. I shuddered with excitement as Colombiano sped towards our destination\u2014Goliath Reef. We all gripped the sides of the boat tightly as the wind whipped our hair.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span class=\"pull-right\">The camaraderie I experienced with my fellow Blue Ventures volunteers was incomparable to anything else I\u2019ve experienced.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although volunteers came from every corner of the earth, all cultural barriers were dissolved by our shared interest in marine science and diving. The camaraderie I experienced with my fellow Blue Ventures volunteers was incomparable to anything else I\u2019ve experienced. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Upon our arrival at Goliath Reef, we all assisted each other with our heavy tanks before climbing up onto the edge of the boat. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The boat captain called, \u201cDivers ready?\u201d We nodded. It was dive time! <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThree\u2026 two\u2026One!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We all back rolled off the boat in unison, delighting in the refreshing coolness of the water.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_8849\" style=\"width: 1090px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8849\" class=\"wp-image-8849 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-3.jpg\" alt=\"sunrise bacalar chico morning dive\" width=\"1080\" height=\"637\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-3.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-3-100x59.jpg 100w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-3-605x357.jpg 605w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-3-745x439.jpg 745w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-3-300x177.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1080px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1080\/637;\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-8849\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Volunteers headed towards Colombiano at sunrise, all ready for a morning dive! | Photo: Kaesha Freyaldenhoven<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under the sea, everything was calm.\u00a0My steady breathing provided a rhythmic soundtrack to the undulating fronds of the soft corals. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"pull-right\">Identifying the underwater creatures in situ brought my textbook knowledge to life, and heightened my appreciation of the dive.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As I descended, my experience changed from simply observing the reef from above to becoming an active part of this astounding marine ecosystem. Squirrelfish eyed me questioningly. Graybsy groupers darted behind crevices as I approached. Caribbean spiny lobsters peeped at me from beneath colourful reef formations. A nurse shark lurked below on the reef\u2019s sandy bottom. Identifying the underwater creatures in situ brought my textbook knowledge to life, and heightened my appreciation of the dive. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Time passed quickly as we completed the Lionfish Survey, and all too soon, it was time to return to the surface.<\/span><\/p>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/morning-sand-salt-science\\\/\"}' class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"900\"><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 426px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 572px; height: 430px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/morning-sand-salt-science\/dcim100goprogopr1882\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8850\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-4.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1080,810\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;HERO4 Silver&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;DCIM100GOPROGOPR1882.&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1486204856&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Copyright 2017. All rights reserved.&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00357142857143&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;DCIM100GOPROGOPR1882.&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Survey Bacalar Chico\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-4-476x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-4-644x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-4-568x426.jpg\" width=\"568\" height=\"426\" align=\"left\" title=\"Survey Bacalar Chico\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 568px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 568\/426;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Volunteers completing a lionfish survey | Photo: Emma Muench<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 323px; height: 430px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/morning-sand-salt-science\/amanda2\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8847\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Amanda2.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"810,1080\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;COOLPIX AW130&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1485414144&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;4.3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;125&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.01&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Survey Bacalar Chico\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Amanda2-268x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Amanda2-362x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Amanda2-319x426.jpg\" width=\"319\" height=\"426\" align=\"left\" title=\"Survey Bacalar Chico\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 319px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 319\/426;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Photo: Amanda Oscarsson<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 461px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 555px; height: 465px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/morning-sand-salt-science\/dcim100goprogopr1631\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8853\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/James4.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1080,903\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;HERO4 Silver&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;DCIM100GOPROGOPR1631.&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1420854943&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00666666666667&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;DCIM100GOPROGOPR1631.&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Nurse shark\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/James4-427x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/James4-578x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/James4-551x461.jpg\" width=\"551\" height=\"461\" align=\"left\" title=\"Nurse shark\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 551px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 551\/461;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Nurse shark | Photo: James Waterfield<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-2\" style=\"width: 340px; height: 465px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/morning-sand-salt-science\/img_4571\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8852\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/IMG_4571.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1080,810\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon PowerShot G16&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1443368567&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;27.849&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;400&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.004&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Caribbean spiny lobster\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/IMG_4571-476x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/IMG_4571-644x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/IMG_4571-336x252.jpg\" width=\"336\" height=\"252\" align=\"left\" title=\"Caribbean spiny lobster\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 336px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 336\/252;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Caribbean spiny lobster<\/div><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/morning-sand-salt-science\/processed-with-vsco-with-hb2-preset-2\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8851\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-6.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1080,659\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Processed with VSCO with hb2 preset&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1487032204&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Copyright 2017. All rights reserved.&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Processed with VSCO with hb2 preset&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Kaesha Diving\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-6-585x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-6-745x455.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Blog-Pic-6-336x205.jpg\" width=\"336\" height=\"205\" align=\"left\" title=\"Kaesha Diving\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 336px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 336\/205;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Kaesha 16 metres down! | Photo: Emma Muench<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 502px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 506px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/morning-sand-salt-science\/dcim101goprogopr6538\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8854\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Kali6-2.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1080,608\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;DCIM101GOPROGOPR6538.&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1495367698&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;DCIM101GOPROGOPR6538.&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Hawksbill Turtle\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Kali6-2-634x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Kali6-2-745x419.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/06\/Kali6-2-891x502.jpg\" width=\"891\" height=\"502\" align=\"left\" title=\"Hawksbill Turtle\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 891px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 891\/502;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Hawksbill turtle in Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve | Photo: Kali Dandrea<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ocean now sparkled with the morning sun high in the sky. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All the divers boarded Colombiano to return to Bacalar Chico Dive Camp chatting enthusiastically! \u201cDid you see the dog snapper?\u201d \u201cYes! The teardrop was so clear! And the hawksbill turtle?\u201d \u201cOh my, that was amazing!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not a minute of the morning had been wasted. It was only 7:45 AM and we had completed a lionfish survey, so much had already been accomplished! For a brief moment I reflected on how thankful I was for this opportunity to apply my newly-learned scientific knowledge to effect positive environmental change. But now, it was definitely time for my morning cup of coffee!<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why not experience Bacalar Chico Dive Camp for yourself on a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/blueventures.org\/volunteer\/belize\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marine Conservation Expedition<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Or come for one of our shorter <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/blueventures.org\/volunteer\/belize\/lionfish-dive-trips\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lionfish Dive Trips<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Blue Ventures volunteer, Kaesha Freyaldenhoven, provides a descriptive account of an average morning at Bacalar Chico Dive Camp in Belize.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":112,"featured_media":8849,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[115,471,478],"tags":[499,515,512,494,546],"class_list":["post-8841","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-belize","category-volunteer-expeditions","category-volunteer-stories","tag-coral-reef","tag-diving","tag-expeditions-2","tag-lionfish-2","tag-volunteer"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - 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