Tropical Marine Biology Belize 2024 - Day #4 - Plan Straight, Crooked Follow

January 22, 2024 - Tropical Research Education Center, San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize

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Good morning from Belize! The title of today's blog post - "Plan Straight, Crooked Follow" - is a Belizean saying that we have all lived for the past few days. At the start of the trip. Professors Geoff and Eric and Captain Dr. Ken sat down to plan our week, giving us time to conduct research and have many fun adventures. But, two days ago, Mother Nature reminded us who is in charge! One of the most important rules in international travel (and especially when leading international travel courses) is to be flexible and roll with whatever comes. Luckily, we've all been able to do that admirably this week.

We arrived at Goliath around 9:15AM to find conditions rather rough, with whipping winds, small whitecaps in the lagoon, and some driving rain:

As a possible omen, my hat (despite having a string around my chin) was blown off into the lagoon during boarding! Luckily, tour guide Carlos was able to retrieve it, to the applause of the group:

Given the conditions of the day, we changed our plan about where to go and collect data ("plan straight, crooked follow!"). We headed to nearby Tuffy reef. Drs. Ken, Geoff, and Eric consulted and decided that conditions, although rough, were workable. So we briefed the students and prepared them for the somewhat challenging conditions:

(Notice the somewhat huddled appearance of the students!) We went over lab procedures, gathered equipment, discussed safety a few more times (students were sent in small groups, each with 1 or 2 guides, extra flotation devices, and safety lines to grab ahold of), the students entered the water and began their 250' swim to the research site, dragging their equipment with them:

At the research site, students implemented their previously-developed protocols to collect data on the corals and fish; one group is studying purple sea fan corals, one boulder brain corals, and one 3 species of fish (parrotfish, ocean surgeonfish, and blue tang):

After about an hour of data collection (which may not sound like much, but in the open ocean in rough seas, it was very challenging!), the students had sufficient data to assess the feasibility of their methods:

After lunch on the boat (tuna fish sandwiches today, along with the usual warm bean dip and chips and PB&J), several students headed back out for a recreational snorkel, spotting several interesting species including brain coral, a spiny brittle star and a spotted trunkfish:

We returned the dock, where the conditions once again required a substantial display of nautical skill by Dr. Ken to safely dock us:

We then hurried back to TREC and headed out to visit Ambergris Caye Elementary School, a private school that specializes in special needs children on the island. As our service learning component, the students brought nearly 100 lbs. of supplies to donate to the school. The Vice Principal of the school met with us, explained their mission, and led us to visit several classroom:

We all enjoyed learning about the successes and challenges at the school. And of course it was fun to interact with the kids. One thing I've learned from my travels: kids are goofy kids everywhere you go!

The students found this visit educational and fulfilling. One purpose of all of my NEC travel courses is to give back to the local community.

After our school visit, we returned to TREC to work on the lab reports. Some folks ventured into town to visit the artisan markets to purchase souvenirs (or, as I call it, "to stimulate the local economy").

We had planed a night snorkel, but conditions prohibited it ("plan straight, crooked follow") so instead we enjoyed pizza at TREC, working on lab reports and talking into the early night. As usual, all students crashed early in anticipation of another busy day tomorrow.

Thank you for reading. Everyone is happy and healthy and doing very well.

Best wishes from La Isla Bonita,

Eric J. Simon