This morning we went out for our first snorkel! It was hardly a real snorkel, we really just dipped our flippers in the water and tested our new gear out. But still, it was a great time and I was reminded of how sensitive my eyes are to salt water!

(some pretty shells by the room)

In the afternoon, we set off for a deeper look into our taxa in the reef, and I got to see a lot of my piscivorous fish out in the wild! I saw several yellow jack swimming among sea roads, some black groupers near the floor by some dead corals, and also a Nassau grouper hanging out in a little creviceby the bottom of the reef. It was really exciting to see the fish after researching them before this trip.

Later on, some of us got dressed up to take pictures on the dock!

This evening, we heard taxon presentations on angelfish, damselfish, and I did my topic lecture on the evolution and ecology of damselfish. I think the trickiest part of this week will be limiting my sun exposure, as I really do not want to get cooked on the trip.

-Emily