Glover's Reef Science Projects

Today is our last day on the island, since we leave at 6 am tomorrow in order to catch our plane back to the US. We had to squeeze in our last dive before noon because you should always leave 24 hours in between diving and flying. The excess nitrogen that we inhale from our SCUBA tanks needs time to get out of our systems.

The final dives were on a spot just outside the atoll edge. Even though the wind has been consistently strong, this reef area is close enough to the atoll that the waves aren't too bad. However, since the small boat can't anchor, we have to get ready to jump in the water the minute the captain stops. Otherwise the boat starts drifting, and the divers entering the water might get separated. We've all become pros at gearing up quickly!

The final dive was split into two. The big boat we usually use had to make a run into the mainland this morning, so we used one of the smaller boats instead. Unfortunately the smaller boats can only fit about 7 divers, instead of all 14 of us. So we split up, with the fish survey team going first, and the two benthic survey teams going second. As usual, the dive was gorgeous! Lots of coral that's looking very familiar by now and fishes we're all well acquainted
with. The 'nauts are getting so familiar with the Belizean reefs that they can now spot unusual fishes and corals.

After the dives, we rinsed our dive gear for the first time all week. Let me tell you, a week of sun, salt water, and high humidity leads to some stinky gear. The rinse didn't even begin to get rid of the smell. I feel bad for the customs agent who happens to open my gear bag... And with the diving for the trip over, it was time to finish up the science portion.

All week long, the 'nauts have been collecting data on underwater paper during their dives. They've been entering in the data on the computer so we'll have a record of everything they did. They also learned the importance of quickly reviewing their data - oftentimes the little marks we make during the survey to remind ourselves of something become cryptic notations after a few days. Looking over the datasheets the same day allows them to fill in any blank spots and make those little marks more understandable. The final count for the week was 18 fish surveys, 10 Point Count transects, and 5 Coral transects. That's an impressive amount of data, and even more impressive is how knowledgeable all the kids are about their specific survey now.

Early in the week, I asked the kids to think up a small science project, collect data throughout the week (either independent from the surveys, or using them to answer a question), and give a short presentation at the end of the week. They were given free range to pick a project, and they came up with a diverse set. The presentations evolved from a quick science meeting to a large gathering of many of the research station residents and visiting scientists, and the kids definitely showed their skills at public speaking. I know I would have been nervous!

Brooke spent the week studying different sediment samples from around the island and at several reef sites. She taught us about how sediment is formed, what causes the grains to be different sizes, what small animals live in the sediment she collected, and how sediments can affect coral reefs. One of the visiting scientists will soon be
studying sediments, and Brooke was able to connect her project with the scientist's future work.

Morgan, who spent the week focusing on fish counts and identification, chose to focus on juvenile fish distribution. Fish can be very tricky animals to identify, since their juvenile, initial and terminal phases can all look very different.
Morgan was able to identify lots of juvenile fishes, and she compared their depth distribution at our dive sites. She found that more baby fish hang out in the shallow waters, to stay safe from the larger predators. However, some young fish were found at every depth.

Connor W. and Colin also observed fishes, but they decided to focus on a single patch reef. This reef is a favorite of the 'nauts since it's within snorkeling distance of the dock. Connor and Colin snorkeled out to the reef at different times of the day (morning, afternoon, evening, and night) and counted fishes. They found that more fish were out during the day, and that there were a lot of several types of fish. However, one of the more prevalent reef fish, the blue chromis, was fairly rare. Given more time, the guys wanted to figure out why that is!

Madison was able to take advantage of some of the science equipment we brought along. She worked with our intrepid Science Officer, Keith Kolasa, to measure temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration and pH
of the waters around the island throughout the day and night. Dissolved oxygen can help us find out how much photosynthesis is happening, since that process produces oxygen. In low oxygen waters, very few animals can survive. Maddie found that there were some clear patterns in the temperature (colder at night), and dissolved oxygen
(lower at night, since photosynthesis needs light to occur). However, one of her sites had dissolved oxygen was consistently the opposite from all the rest of the sites. No one can offer an explanation why!

And finally, our coral experts gave us a talk on coral distribution at different depths. Conner and Danny observed the different species of coral at the three depths we dove, looking at the abundance and shapes of the coral. They found that some species have definite depth preferences. Other corals can live at all the depths we visited, but they have very different shapes: the deeper the coral was, the flatter it looked. This is so the coral can catch as much light filtering down from the surface as possible. In shallow waters, there's so much light that corals can form more upright structures.

The experiments the 'nauts thought up and performed were amazing, and the station crew was extremely impressed. I'm so proud of the kids for putting in so much time learning and working this week. They have improved their dives skills, become experts at their various survey methods, and put together science projects from start to finish in a
week's time. And the whole time, they've had a smile on their faces!

Congrats for all you have accomplished, Belize Crew!

Glover's Reef Research Station

After all our dives for the day were over and the kids grabbed dinner and a quick shower, we had the chance to hear the Glovers Reef Research Station manager tell us about the role that the station plays in conservation of the Belize marine ecosystem. The station is on a caye that was bought by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) back in the 1980s. WCS has hundreds of projects worldwide, dealing in conservation of wildlife and wild places. They realized the importance and uniqueness of the Belizean reef system and decided to set up a research station. The only coral atolls in the Atlantic are found in Belize, and they are formed by a different process than typical atolls in the Pacific. In addition, there is a large barrier reef system.

The coral reefs in Belize are important to the country in a multitude of different ways. The Belizean economy is largely supported by tourism, and because of the massive reef system, many of those tourists are SCUBA divers. We definitely agree that this is a lovely place to dive! Besides tourism, the reefs provide a livelihood for fishermen and food for many people. The reefs are even integral in protecting the mainland from hurricanes; the barrier reef can buffer the shoreline from larger storm surges.

Because of these reasons, it's incredibly important to preserve the corals and reef ecosystems. WCS has partnered with the Belizean fisheries services to provide education for fishermen, including retraining fishermen who no longer can make a living on the reefs. WCS also helps the Belizean government write laws protecting the reefs by placing limits on fishing and harvesting from the reefs. And providing a research station for scientists to visit and make observations and run experiments is also vital.

The Glovers Reef Marine Reserve has been divided up into zones with varying levels of conservation. There is a small section called the Wilderness Area that is completely closed off - no fishing, lobstering, diving, snorkeling, or boating is allowed. The goal is to make this area as free from interference as possible. Other zones are no-take areas for fish, but diving and snorkeling are allowed (that's the area we're in!). However, it wouldn't be practical to completely closed off the atoll from fishing - many fishermen depend on this productive area to earn a living. Without the support of local fishermen, it's extremely difficult to enforce fishing rules. So there are areas that are open to fishing, but with important limits imposed by the Belizean fisheries service.

During one of our boat rides to a dive site, we passed several small canoes in deep waters. We asked our captain what they were doing and he told us they were free-diving for lobster. It is illegal to use SCUBA to collect lobster in Belize. But these guys were free-diving in 40-50 foot waters! Can you imagine if the Florida Keys restricted lobstering to free-divers? Either the fishermen of Florida would have greatly increased breath-holding skills or there would be a lot more lobsters. It's definitely interesting to see how other countries are approaching conservation and management of their natural resources as the US struggles with its own regulations.

Accomodations at GRMR

The research station at Glovers Reef is almost energy independent. All of the water comes from captured rainwater or desalinated ocean water. There are solar panels to grab energy from the plentiful sunlight. And the toilets are composting, meaning that all of our waste can go to help create more food.

Of course, being energy independent doesn't mean we're allowed to freely waste water and power. Instead we're all learning to conserve as much as possible. We use very little freshwater, except for drinking and rinsing some scientific equipment. Our showers are extremely quick, and they're in brackish water. Showering in freshwater will be a much-appreciated luxury when we all return home.

Lights are used only sparingly at night, which works out for us. We're all so tired from diving by the end of the day that going to bed soon after the sun sets is a welcome respite. There's no a/c, a single washing machine, and no dryer (that's what wind and clothes lines are for!).

It's funny how quickly we've all adjusted to this new way of living. It's not strange to walk to an outhouse to use the bathroom, or to sleep under a mosquito net. We're finding cool, breezy places to hang out during the hottest part of the day, and the guys will tell anyone who asks that hammocks are the only way to sleep on a tropical island.

But while we all appreciate the simplicity of living like this, as well as how ecologically friendly it is, we are looking forward the returning to the comforts of home (including showers, ice-cold sodas, and clean clothes).

~Julie Galkiewicz, Education Officer, SNI Tarpon Springs Chapter

Stingray Research in Belize

Last night the wind picked up. We've had gusty, sporadic wind before, but it always died down sometime during the night which left everyone not smart enough to bring a hammock very sweaty and sticky. But this wind has been consistently and strongly blowing for almost 24 hours now. We all appreciate the cooling effects of the breeze, but the increased wind has created a lot of high surf and waves outside the atoll. Since our island sits right on the edge, we can compare the calm, inner waters with the raging outer waters. And the captain and our various divemasters made the decision not to attempt our first dive outside the atoll. We went to a spot inside where there's a steep drop off. However, unlike the walls we've dove on before, we could see the sandy bottom that was about 120 feet deep.

The time we have at 90 feet is only about 20 minutes - much too short to do some of the science surveys. Instead, I instructed the 'nauts to observe the reef closely. When we got back to the lab, we discussed what differences they observed between deeper reefs and shallow reefs. They told me that there were fewer large fish at 90 feet, but if you looked up at the top of the wall, you could see large schools of fish. There were fewer corals total, but a lot more algae and sponges. The number of different types of species of coral was much lower, and the corals themselves were smaller and flatter. Coral depends on light, and at deeper depths, it tends to grow in a flattened, plate-like morphology to catch as much of light that penetrates to that depth as it can.

Before our second dive, a few of the 'nauts and parents got the chance to visit a research site near the station. Several of the research scientists who are living at the station are studying sting rays.There is a small patch reef located near the dock that serves as a cleaning station for sting rays, and the researchers often snorkel out and observe the rays, counting, measuring, and identifying them. The rays swim onto the reef and arch their backs. This is a signal for the small fish that live there to swarm all over the ray, picking off dead skin and parasites. This is a mutually beneficial symbiosis - the rays get cleaned of potentially harmful parasites and the fishes get a good meal. Stations like this exist on coral reefs too. It's not unusual to see large fish sitting perfectly still with their mouths open and fins splayed wide, with small fish pecking at their gills. The small fish have to trust that the big fish won't eat them!

~Julie Galkiewicz, Education Officer, SNI Tarpon Springs Chapter

Jellyfish Patch Reef, Belize

Today was our first day of "regular" diving, even though we've already been diving for 2 days. We planned a 90 foot dive for the morning, a 60 foot dive right after lunch, and a 30 foot dive right before dinner.

To start off the day our 90 foot dive was along the edge of the atoll, outside of the protective coral ring. We saw lots of fishes, a GIGANTIC lobster (a few of our sports-fishers were amazed by the size), and some of the same corals we've seen on our other reef dives. Deep dives are always fun, with the chance to see very different types of corals and creatures on the reef. Too bad we can only stay down there 20 minutes!

The second dive was in the shallower area right above where the wall began its steep drop-off. The kids were hard at work doing their science surveys - fish counts and classifying the benthic cover.

And our third dive was at a new spot, which we are lovingly calling Jellyfish Patch Reef. This new dive spot is inside the protected atoll area. From aerial views or satellite pictures, you can see that the Glovers Reef coral atoll forms almost a complete protected circle around the inner lagoon area. The few breaks along this coral boundary are the only ways for boats to get in and out of the atoll. Outside of the coral ring, the wall drops off sharply into very deep depths. Inside of the atoll, depths are much shallower, reaching a maximum of about 70 feet. As all of our Belize group is well aware, the shallow protected lagoon area has much smaller waves. Going outside the lagoon means large ocean swells and a much bumpier boat ride.

Staying inside the lagoon area is new for our group. The patch reef was about 20 feet deep, but the sides sloped down to about 50 feet. We all had to be careful not to go too deep, since our dive was planned for 30 feet maximum depth. And this dive presented a new obstacle: jellyfish! There were large numbers of big moon jellies, which are essentially harmless. Unfortunately, there were also a lot of sea wasps and smaller jellies with a much more painful sting. Cruising around the patch reef on this dive required a sharp eye to watch out for the nearly see-through jellies and quick reflexes to change direction if a collision was imminent. A benthic cover survey and two fish surveys filled out our science for this dive. Morgan and I were actually able to circle the entire patch reef in our 50 minute dive while she performed a fish survey.

~Julie Galkiewicz, Education Officer, SNI Tarpon Springs Chapter

Our first dive was at a site called the Aquarium. It amazes me how many great reefs are by the island. Our dive was outside the atoll so the waves are bigger and the current was stronger. I saw three huge black grouper that each weighed about 60 pounds! Conner (CHutch) and I went snorkeling on a reef off the coast of our island. It was absolutely beautiful. There were no bleached corals and the reef was so healthy. Our second dive was also at the Aquarium. We did fish counts again. Our third dive was fish counts again. IT WAS MY 100TH DIVE!! We saw a TON of moon jellies. Maddie and I were playing with them. Some of them were bigger than my head.

~Brooke Liston, Tarpon Springs SCUBAnaut

The Great Blue Hole, Belize

The first dive today was at a world famous dive spot - Blue Hole at Lighthouse Reef Atoll (seen in NASA satellite image to left). It's an amazing geologic feature - a 400 foot deep hole in the lagoon of the atoll which averages about 40 feet deep. Diving the Blue Hole in Belize is like seeing the pyramids in Egypt. You've just got to do it if you're there!

But to get there required an hour and a half boat ride through 6-8 foot seas. Even with an expert captain, this meant a lot of big ups and downs as

we rode over the waves, and a few hard knocks if the boat landed a bit crooked. This affected people in two ways: 1) seasickness - as a person with a lot of first hand knowledge about this, I prepared for the trip by taking Dramamine and sat in the back where the wave motion wasn't quite as extreme. And 2) soreness - bouncing up and down, side to side, over and over again for 1.5 hours can make anyone sore. And if you're sitting on a hard seat, going airborne over particularly large waves can lead to a hard landing.

After a quick stop at Half Moon Caye to check in, we ran the last bit over to Blue Hole. Unfortunately for us, the legendary great visibility

was significantly lower because of Tropical Depression Alex who had just blown through. But at 90 feet deep, we were able to see the strange wall formations just fine. The hole is absolutely covered in algae, cascading down the sides. It almost looks like a stationary green waterfall. In a few crevices we could see some hardy lobster. Not sure how they plan on getting out of the hole! And there were a few corals as well. Fish were few and far between, although we did see two reef sharks at the beginning of the dive.

The second dive was another science dive - two groups of 'nauts did REEF fish surveys, while the third group worked on coral measurements and identification (the AGRRA belt transect). The coral group is having a hard time finishing their transects in time because there are so many types of coral! Of course, it's always awesome to see lots of coral, but it sure is faster to do this survey back home in Florida.

Our final dive of the day was a night dive, on the same 30 foot reef we've visited twice before (Bev's Garden). But as familiar as the reef may be, it's always different at night. Every diver was marked with a glowstick on their tank, just to give a location. And every diver had a dive light to help them explore the reef. It's always reassuring to have a dive light with you, but sometimes its nice to swim around without it on. That way you get to see what everyone else is doing, and you don't have to worry about plankton swarming around your light.

We saw many of the same creatures we've seen previously on the reef, just acting differently. There were parrotfish asleep in crevices, squirrelfish out and about, and corals with polyps extended to feed. But there were also a lot of new creatures! I saw a baby squid, who accidently ran into my dive light and was so alarmed that he inked. We saw basket stars on top of coral heads, and lots of biolumnescent plankton.

So even with only three dives, we accomplished a lot today, and definitely can't wait for bed.

~Julie Galkiewicz, Education Office, SNI Tarpon Springs Chapter

The Blue Hole was big and basically empty. We saw a shark (unable to tell what type because it was too far) and a sea turtle, but basically that was it. The algae growing on the sides wasn't too interesting and to be honest, everything else was just dark blue nothing. It wasn't a total bust, though. The reef that formed [circling the Blue Hole] about 30 feet down and went towards the surface (literally like within 2 feet of the surface) was pretty nice. It reminded me of Bev's garden, another site we've been diving on here in Blieze, being that a lot of the coral and fish that I noticed were in both locations and both are shallow reefs connected to long drop-offs.

~Connor Waugh, Tarpon Springs SCUBAnaut

Glover's Reef Atoll, Belize

After all the traveling yesterday, plus the fact that Belize doesn't use daylights saving time and sunset arrived at 6:45, most of us went to bed around 8:30 or 9. And with the sun rising at 5, the whole crew was awake and ready for the day by about 6 am. I know most of the parents of the kids on the trip will be amazed to hear that!

Diving on Glover's Reef Atoll did not disappoint. Our first dive was fairly shallow, with our maximum depth at 30 feet. We wanted to use this dive to get acquainted with any special Belize differences on the reef. Since most of our dives back home on the Springs Coast of Florida only go to 15 feet, 30 feet is a depth we're not used to. We got a chance to explore Bev's Reef, an area right outside the protected inner lagoon of the atoll. There were many more species of coral and fish than we're used to seeing, and the amount of coral was much higher.

The second dive of the day has gone down in the log books as everyone's favorite, or at least top five. In a similar area to the first dive but over the side wall of the atoll down to 60 feet, we drifted along checking out overhangs, looking up valleys that headed towards shallower water, and stared over the edge of the wall into darkness. The leading part of the group even got a chance to see a pod of dolphins swim by, and two or three sea turtles also made appearances.

In between dives, the kids are enjoying the island location, snorkeling out a few hundred feet in the shallow lagoon waters. There are reports of small patch reefs with large coral colonies, and a wide variety of fish.

The third dive of the day was back to Site 1 (Bev's Reef). But instead of taking it easy and exploring, we started our science surveys. Three groups of 'nauts were formed, one to perform a point-count survey method to assess the dominant benthic cover; the second group used a belt transect, measuring and identifying corals along a one-meter wide belt; and the third group swam around the reef and identified and counted fish species. Since this is the first time some of the 'nauts have used these methods, it was important to try them on a shallow site and work out any problems that popped up. The kids have chosen to specialize in one of the three survey methods. This will allow them to become pros, and the TS chapter can rely on them in the future to teach younger 'nauts the survey techniques.

After quick showers (very rustic conditions), and a delicious dinner, we held our final science meeting of the day. The kids reported on what they saw, what successes they had, and what challenges they faced. The rest of the night was spent looking up corals and fishes in ID books in order to learn more about them.

~ Julie Galkiewicz, Education Officer, SNI Tarpon Springs Chapter

Our first dive was so cool! First time seeing a lot of corals (like Staghorn, Mustard Hill, and Pillar) and fist time seeing Triggerfish and Lionfish. It was really cool watching the parrotfish eat the algae off the coral skeleton. Colin and I went snorkelling after our first dive and saw Boulder Brain Coral, which seemed like it was confused, and there was fire coral everywhere. Our second dive was really cool, too. There were dolphins swimming above us and we saw a couple of sea turtles. I saw another Lionfish and lots of shrimp. Our third dive was at the same location as our first except Danny and I did the coral survey together. I felt so cool knowing the corals. I wouldn't have had a chance at that survey a few months ago. I liked seeing the lionfish, since I hadn't ever seen any before (even though the are invasive to the Caribbean) and all the corals looked like they were straight from my study guide. I'd been used to seeing only 4 or 5 corals in the Gulf of Mexico but here I'm seeing like 20!

~Conner Hutchisson, Tarpon Springs SCUBAnaut

On the first dive we dove at Bev's Garden. I was amazed at how clear the water was and the color of the water was so blue. The water looked like it had just come out of a movie. The first dive I did not see a lot of fish but there was so much coral. It was so beautiful. The second dive was a lot better it was a 60 foot dive at Long Key Wall. Right as we were going down, I saw a Green sea turtle. It was a big one too. While we were swimming along we saw another turtle and when we were following it a dolphin swam right over it and following it was about 6 other dolphins!! It was an awesome sight. That dive I saw a lionfish for the first time. They are not as cool as people said. The third dive Conner and I did coral surveys. I had a good time.

~Danny Alaniz, Tarpon Springs SCUBAnaut

The reefs of the Springs Coast, Keys and Belize (thus far) are immensely different in many ways. While the roles the organisms play are consistent, the players - and sheer quantity - are vastly different. The species diversity is incredible in Belizean waters. For example, I saw Blue Hamlet, Indigo Hamlet, Creole Wrasse, and numerous parrotfish that I have not seen since the Bahamas in 2008. The coral is also healthier, larger and more numerous. There is Porites porites, Montastraea cavernosa and M. annularis, Porites astreoides, and oh so much more. I also saw Acropora cervicornis and Dendrogyra cynlindrus for the first time. In addition to the stony corals, I saw many octocorals, including sea fans, sea plumes and sea whips. I also saw a variety of sponges. On the second dive I saw two sea turtles, one of which was a Hawksbill. I did a fish count on the third dive. Unfortunately I saw a few lionfish on each dive :-(

~Morgan Liston, Tarpon Springs SCUBAnaut

Tarpon Springs Chapter travels to Belize

Our travels to Belize were off to an early start. The connecting flight departed at 6:30 am, so the whole Belize crew needed to get to the airport at 5 am. A long night of packing and preparing, plus the excitement of the trip meant that most of us only got a few hours of sleep. Checking in our bags was an adventure as well. With two free checked bags allowed for international travel, along with the two carry-ons allowed on all flights meant that some of us (definitely me!) were dragging along 4 large bags. Scuba gear and scientific equipment take up a lot of space!

After 4.5 hours of flights, 3 hours of bus travel from Belize City to Dangriga, and 1 hour by boat to the Glover's Reef atoll, we were thrilled to finally be able to drop our bags and start exploring. The island is pretty small (the nature trail around it takes about 15 minutes to walk), but the views are gorgeous! We're sleeping in dorms that are right on the water. The crashing of waves on the reef break will help us fall asleep even faster than the exhaustion alone.

After a delicious dinner and some planning by the adults, the kids had their first science meeting. We went over some assessments (basically quizzes) the kids had taken on the plane ride over to Belize. Instead of regular quizzes in school, though, it's ok to get most of the answers wrong on this assessment. It's to give me an idea of who knows what about the various topics, which include identifying corals, geology, geography, sampling methods, and reef structures. Sounds like a lot, but these 'nauts know so much already! And now I know what to focus on for the rest of the trip.

Tomorrow begins our first day of diving, and none of us can wait to get in the water. We know the dive sites and reefs will be very different from what we typically see on the Springs Coast of Florida, but no one knows exactly what to expect. We'll be amazed!

~Julie Galkiewicz, Education Officer, SNI Tarpon Springs Chapter

It is so different here than at home. There aren't any real "cities" the same as we picture them. There are huts pieced together and not many cars. Everything looks a bit run down and I can't imagine there are many modern accommodations. On the island, they use solar power, recycled rain water, and compostable outhouses. Electricity is limited. It's strange not being able to turn up the AC or flush a toilet. Comfort isn't the same here. It's not awful though. It's actually very beautiful and strangely relaxing not to rely on electricity and instant comfort when the slightest thing goes wrong. (I'll still be thankful for all I have at home though!) Poverty seems to be the norm here, as opposed to at home where it's the exception.

~Madison Hayes, Tarpon Springs SCUBAnaut

7th Annual NABS Youth Education Summit

I recently chaperoned three SCUBAnauts, Mary and Jessica Silk (St. Petersburg Chapter) and Ashley Hilbert (Tarpon Springs Chapter) to attend the 7^th Annual Youth Education Summit for the National Association of Black Scuba Divers (NABS) in Florida City. This 5 day summit was in conjunction with NOAA, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. There were close to 50 youth and adults in attendance. Our NOAA guide for the week was Kathy Sakas (Education Coordinator Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary) and her knowledge of the Keys history and Sanctuary Ecosystems was a constant source of information. Other NOAA educators were Mary Tagliareni (NOAA-Florida Key National Marine Sanctuary) and Timothy Runyan, PhD (Maritime Heritage Program). The youth attended a series of classes on coral reefs, fish identification, neutral buoyancy activities and underwater archaeology. There was a community beach clean-up day, we learned about the Miccosukee Indians and took an air boat ride and of course the youth had opportunities to snorkel and dive on various reefs.

We started our week with Mary Tagliareni giving a class on the Introduction to Coral Reefs followed the next day with an interactive demonstration of four types of instruments used in coral reef research. On Tuesday, the Youth had the opportunity to give back and clean the beach at Bahia Honda State Park. Everyone was issued a bag and glove to comb the beach for trash. Kathy Sakas came back with a collection of trash and turned it into a mini hands-on demonstration for the Youth to see how harmful litter can be to marine animals. Later that evening, the Youth attended an Ocean Science Technology presentation and were taught how to build a Neutral Buoyancy object. Every summit has a fun day and Wednesday was it. We traveled to Key West for a Behind the Scenes Underwater Archeology tour with Corey Malcolm, an archaeologist with the Mel Fischer Museum. The Youth learned how artifacts found in ocean waters are preserved for historical museums. We met up with Mary Tagliareni again and had a tour of the Eco Discovery Center, a very interactive museum open to the public. The evening was topped off with time at Malory Square, a place where local artists sell their art or perform street acts.

Thursday and Friday were primarily snorkeling and diving days. Our SCUBAnaut Youth were able to log four dives; unfortunately due to very windy conditions Aquarius on Key Largo was not possible. Dr. Chris Moses (SCUBAnauts Dive Safety Officer) was able to join the divers the last day and observe their diving skills. The week culminated with a banquet. The guest speaker was Dan Orr, president of Divers Alert Network (DAN). Various awards were given out to Youth participants and SCUBAnaut Jessica Silk was awarded Female Youth Diver. Her award is a testament to the character building and active citizenship promoted in the SCUBAnaut program. Overall the week was jam packed with substantive educational and water opportunities.

~Midge Silk, St. Petersburg Chapter (Adult Leader)

My experience at the NABS/YES Youth Summit was very rewarding. I was able to speak to very inspiring individuals that have an immense love for the ocean and all the animals in it. Mrs. Kathy Sakas was very nice and I'm so grateful to have been able to learn from her. Where ever we went she always had useful information.

One time when we were doing a beach cleanup she collected the weirdest things that were washed up on the sand and even though we were staring at this stuff all day searching for trash I never really stopped to think what that stuff was.

On this trip we were immersed in cultural history, when we toured the Mel Fisher Museum and the Cemetery. We learned about the lives of people during the Middle Passage and how they were treated once they reached Key West. We also got to experience the tourist attractions such as the cat guy who lost a couple of his marbles. We were able to do a couple of dives but the people from the NABS organization really made the trip a fun and rewarding experience. I made some real great friends that I hope to keep in touch with.

~Mary Silk, St. Petersburg SCUBAnaut

Today's Energy Mix: Implications on Ocean and Coastal Resources

On June 9^th, the SCUBAnauts attended the CHOW sessions on energy and it was very interesting. I learned so much more on the oil spill and how it will hurt our economy and our ecosystem. We also learned why we need to help in any possible way to save marine life. We also meet three Representatives of Florida, Congresswoman Corrine Brown (FL-3), Congressman Allen Boyd (FL-2), and Congresswoman Kathy Castor (FL-11). It was such a great experience meeting them and talking about what we do with SCUBAnauts. Also we gave suggestions on how we can help with the oil spill and how to get the word around to kids. It is a couple of moments that I will never forget. Later we visited some of the museums and had a blast, seeing so many exhibits. We also went to see the Washington Monument and the White House. One of the coolest things I have ever seen. This trip is something I will remember for the rest of my life.

- Sofia Alaniz, Tarpon Springs SCUBAnaut

On June 9^th, the SCUBAnauts got to attend the Capitol Hill Ocean Week talks. In the morning we went to a talk, and the topic was Today’s Energy Mix: Impacts on Ocean and Coastal Resources. It was especially intriguing because of the recent events in the Gulf of Mexico, the Deep Sea Horizon Oil Spill. We also meet with three Representatives from Florida: Congresswoman Corrine Brown, Congressman Allen Boyd, and Congresswoman Kathy Castor. We had the opportunity to discuss our opinions on important issues, and ask what they were doing to help ocean preservation. We later visited the Natural History Museum as well as the American History Museum. It was very educational and exciting.

-Brooke Liston, Tarpon Springs SCUBAnaut

On Wednesday, June 9th, we woke up bright and early- we had an important day in front of us. After navigating our way through the basement of Congress, we met with Florida Representative Corrine Brown. She told us about her efforts to create a high-speed train connecting many of Florida’s major cities, bringing us up to the standards set by the more efficient, environmentally sound modes of travel used in Europe, for example. She then let us sit in on a BP hearing where we heard speeches made by many important men and women about the oil spill, which was heartbreaking to hear. We also met with Representatives Allen Boyd and Kathy Castor, who listened to our stories and suggestions and answered our questions about our futures and the future of our environment. Representative Kathy Castor’s district is very close to where we are so she was especially interested in our work. It was a very exciting, empowering day. It was great that we got to have our say and actually have people in power listen to our concerns about our futures.

-Madison Hayes, Tarpon Springs SCUBAnaut

CHOW: A New Nauts Perspective

This experience with meeting Florida and Massachusetts Representatives opened my eyes to the political view involving the oil spill, windmills, and faster transportation. Personally, it was very nerve-racking. However, it was worth every emotion. It did not only give me the opportunity of being responsible, but it also gave me the confidence to approach and carry out a conversation with a Representative. I hope I will be able to do more of these events to build up more confidence and do more with questioning. SCUBAnauts has opened my eyes to a bigger world in politics with oceanic issues.

-Emily Pitchko, Lake Hitchcock SCUBAnaut

This was an excellent experience for me. Talking with Anne Nelson, science advisor for Congressman John Olver, about the oil spill in the Gulf and other things such as windmills instead of oil to fuel homes was phenomenal. Meeting with the Representatives from Florida was also inspiring. I am so excited that I am a SCUBAnaut, and I can't wait to go on more trips. This was the beginning of a huge adventure for me.

-Caity Wilkins, Lake Hitchcock SCUBAnaut

Celebrating the 100th Birthday of Jacques Cousteau

"From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to earth. But man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free."

- Jacques Yves Cousteau

While in DC, the SCUBAnauts had the opportunity to attend the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF) Awards Dinner. This year’s dinner was especially significant as it marked the 10th anniversary of the NMSF as well as the 100th anniversary of Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s birth. We spent the first part of the evening mingling and conversing with the other guests at the dinner. We had the opportunity to meet many new people as well as reunite with old friends. Most notably we met Jean Michel, Fabien and Phillipe Cousteau, Bob Ballard, and many other notable people within the world of oceanography. Upon sitting down at our table we saw that everyone received a red cap, similar to that of the famed red hat of Jacques Cousteau. We all celebrated his legacy and his dream by donning our red caps in the presence of his family.

-Morgan Liston, Tarpon Springs SCUBAnaut

At the NMSF dinner, we met Jean Michel Cousteau in person. He was a really interesting person to meet. He was one of the people that spoke at the dinner. He did not like the tragedy of the oil spilling into our ocean. We talked to him about the oil spill and ocean conservation. It was a really exciting experience.

-Danny Alaniz, Tarpon Springs SCUBAnaut

At the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation dinner, we met Robert Ballard in person. He was a wealth of information and a very knowledgeable person. I am glad I met him. Robert Ballard was one of the people who found the Titanic after it sunk. We met interesting people such as Jean Michel Cousteau who is the son of the inventor of the Aqua Lung, and Don Walsh who has gone the deepest in a manned submarine. All and all Capital Hill Ocean Week was a great experience and I would love to do it again.

-Colin Cassick, Tarpon Springs SCUBAnaut

Life is all about traveling down the road and adding a few stops on the way. Traveling to Washington D.C. was definitely a stop won to be remembered. The trip started out with the big “BANG” of fun in Capital Hill Ocean Science Week Award dinner. There I met the person who discovered one of the most interesting topics in my life; the R.M.S. Titanic Robert Ballard

(I even got a picture!). I also met the Cousteaus and this too was an awesome meeting since I’ve done a project on Jacques-Ives Cousteau. However, one of my favorite things on this whole trip was getting to receive a red hat just like Jacques Cousteau and traveling on the metro! I’ve learned many things along this trip such as how to mingle with other important people, how to find ice cream in D.C., and most importantly; how to travel on the metro. I hope to go next year!

-Jessica Silk, St. Petersburg SCUBAnaut

Capital Oceans Science Week was a great experience that has really furthered my view of the science world. I was lucky enough to talk to Dan Basta, Director of the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, and it was a real privilege. He was very nice and supportive of the education of young people. Then, I got to meet with Jacques Cousteau’s son, Jean Michel, and his grandson, Fabien, both of which are genuinely nice guys. We were able to get into an intriguing conversation about the unfortunate event of the oil spill. He was quite upset of the horrible event but focused more about how to help the affected areas. He was very inspiring.

- Mary Silk, St. Petersburg SCUBAnaut

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2010 CHOW: Focus on Clean Energy

Next week, twenty SCUBAnauts from three Chapters (St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs and Lake Hitchcock will be attending Capital Hill Oceans Week in Washington, DC . Capital Hill Oceans Week (CHOW), sponsored by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF), provides our 'nauts with a great opportunity to meet ocean explorers, science and policy leaders. In 2008, while attending this event, SCUBAnauts were invited by White House staff to meet with the First Lady Laura Bush. In 2009, the NMSF recognized SCUBAnauts International for its volunteer and environmental work. This year will have particular significance with the focus on "Clean Energy and a Healthy Ocean: Navigating the Future". The 'nauts will have the opportunity to meet and discuss these issues with members of Congress, including Congresswoman Corrine Brown, as well as ocean and energy experts.

Why Naut Arc GIS?

Four SCUBAnauts from the Tarpon Springs Chapter recently attended the Southeast Regional ESRI conference in Charlotte, NC in April 2010. We were featured as guest speakers in the closing session of the conference as a unique example of the application of ESRI's software. We presented our Chapter's work on developing the first geospatial database of natural reefs along Florida's Springs Coast. The ESRI conference was a great opportunity to boost our public speaking skills. In addition to learning about the software and interesting job opportunities, we met several new and exciting people. This conference gave us a new vigor for exploring the Spring's Coast.

In addition to monitoring the benthic habitat and fish populations, our Chapter has been working with Florida Fish and Wildlife scientists to monitor populations of sea turtles (such as the green sea turtle shown in the picture on one of our study sites).

-Morgan and Brooke Liston, Tarpon Springs SCUBAnauts