All Day Classes at CCV

July 5th and 6th

Students arrived at 9 o'clock on Thursday for the first day of the full day classes. Everyone was given supplies for the trip such as underwater lights and cameras, and then we launched right into a reef fish identification video. The video went over many of the types of fish found in Caribbean reefs and gave some tips and tricks for remembering and identifying them. We broke for lunch and then headed out for our first snorkel together at Number 10 Pond. The 90 degree weather made for very warm water for our swim, but it was still a refreshing swim. While snorkeling everyone had the chance to make sure their gear worked, figure out how to use a snorkel, and have Brian's assistance if there was any problems. We saw lots of fish on our snorkel, and even a turtle. 

On Friday we started off the day with presentations from the three independent students, and other students took notes and asked questions. We wrapped up a slide show of coral reefs that we had previously started. After lunch we gathered up our plankton nets and made our way down to the river next to CCV. After 10 or so minutes of net dragging in the river, we had collected some cool creatures. Back in the lab at CCV, we looked at our findings under small hand held microscopes. Because our trip to Honduras will only involve relatively shallow waters, we finished off the day in the classroom watching a cool video about the depths of the ocean and what lives down there. 

Getting ready to snorkel.

Sam practicing her snorkeling in the Number 10 Pond

A turtle Brian found while snorkeling.

Scoping out a good spot to do the practice plankton tow.

Jacob and Aidan dragging their net in the river.

Mariel and Analise looking for organisms through their microscope.

A Mayfly that was found through the microscope.