Today we set off for the reef! The boat ride from mainland Belize to Glover’s was so breathtaking and only a bit choppy in the middle. As soon as we got off the boat it felt like we were transported to a magical, new place. We got to just hang out a bit in the evening before dinner and presentations, which highlighted parrotfish, soft corals, and then a lecture on the ecology and evolution of parrotfish.

It was cool to learn about the hormonal mechanisms in parrotfish that cause them to transition from females into males if needed. Apparently, they also sleep for nearly 10 hours every day in a mucus bubble that protects them from potential predators.

The soft corals presentation really highlighted all of the soft corals we will be seeing in the upcoming days, which is getting me hyped for all of the snorkeling to come!

I have not seen any cockroaches on the island so far, and since we have not snorkeled yet I cannot report anything on my reef taxon. I have seen some insane crabs, though! The land crabs are so terrifying, I had no idea there would be so many of them or that they would be this large. I wish that they didn’t always hang out by the showers at night but it seems they are relatively harmless, just a bit terrifying.

-Emily