Collecting Data

Today we started identifying the 7 different surfaces of the reef: hard and soft coral, sponges, sand, rock, algae and other. I worked on this part with a teacher from Colorado. The waves made it challenging to stay in one place to look at what was under the water. Other groups took air and water temperature readings, took water samples and looked for coral bleaching. There were 2 highlights today: seeing the biggest crab I have ever seen, a Batwing Coral Crab (about the size of the seat of a chair,) and 6 foot Sharp Tail Eel swimming in the reef.

A group of us also went on a hike before dinner to see the sand dunes, which look like sand from far away but are actually hard as rock! We saw a couple of hermit crabs and took some scenic pictures. We had to walk on the road part of the way and we had to remember that cars drive on the left side of the road, like in England. Everyone is friendly and they wave, one person even stopped to see if we needed anything. I found out from the taxi driver in Nassau that there are over 700 islands in the Bahamas, and only 30 are inhabited.

I am surprised to see so much trash on the beach. There is no where to put it because so much of the island is inland hyper saline lakes (even more salty than the ocean!) We eat Jolly Ranchers after snorkeling to get the yucky salty taste out of our mouths. I have been in the water so much today I still feel like I am in the waves! I painted 2 watercolor pictures: one of the beach and one of the reef. They are not very good but it was fun!

CHALLENGE:
Make a prediction for the data we collected. How much of the reef do you think are hard or soft coral, sponges, sand, rock, or algae? How much of the reef do you think is bleached? Post a comment here about what you think and why.

FOR MORE FUN: Paint your own picture above or under the sea. Bring it to school to be posted on a bulletin board.