Today we began conducting field research for the marine-based projects. We did two dives today which were on sites away from the resort. We noticed the coral was a darker brown color and the water was murkier in these areas. After the first dive in the morning, we took a trip over to Maya Key, which is off the south side of the island near the Port of Roatan. There are lots of things to check out there - animals on exhibit that have been rescued and rehabilitated, along with a Mayan ruin replica and a museum of artifacts. Some of our team hopped in for a snorkel to retrieve a temperature data logger placed last year by Dr. Alexander Parker.

The second dive was on our way back to the resort and was interesting because it was a drift dive - the first drift dive that I had ever experienced. It was a lot of fun! We dropped down to the site, which had a smooth current, and drifted along with it near a massive wall for 45 minutes. We were split into groups, where oceanographers used this dive to also collect research data that they needed to start their projects. We are returning home in four days, but this experience has been very insightful and fun and I don't want to go back! 

- Cadet David Marez

Professors Stephen Kielar and Ariel Setniker contributed to this blog entry.

Check back often and follow the adventure with our blog series that gives the latest news from the International Experience summer 2024 program traveling through Morocco and Honduras prior to returning to Vallejo on May 27, 2024.

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