News & Events 2007-2008

To Sea What They Could See

Over the long winter weekend, members of the marine science class traveled with teacher Rod Gerdsen to the Turks and Caicos Islands for the third year in a row, where they enjoyed warm weather, snorkeling and kayaking through crystal clear waters. Rod explained, “Eighteen students departed at 3:30 a.m. on Friday, February 1, hopped a direct flight out of JFK Airport and were on the beach by noon. The first full day there, the group went kayaking with an eco-friendly company called Big Blue Adventures, exploring the red mangroves on the north shore of Providenciales, the capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands. During the paddle, they discovered a dozen huge Bahamas Star Starfish and walked across Salt Cay, a government-protected island with indigenous island iguanas measuring three feet long.”

Rod added, “The next day, they went snorkeling with Bog Blue Adventures once again, spotting spotted eagle rays, grouper, and even the rarely seen JoJo, the Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin. JoJo was released into the near-shore Turks waters from an aquarium a few years ago because he didn’t get along with the other captive dolphins. Since then, tourists hope to catch a glimpse of Jojo; we were able to actually swim with him! As we left, he surfed and frolicked and jumped in the wake of our dive boat, allowing the students a rare and privileged view of one of the famous residents of these islands.”

Click on images to view larger.

Posted 2/15/08

> Read About More Student News & Events

return to top