Marine Science Students Make Waves!

Members of this year’s marine science class to traveled to the Cayman Islands over long winter weekend. Teacher Rod Gerdsen reports: Thirteen students and two faculty members left early in the morning of January 30 and returned late on February 3. Activities on Grand Cayman included a snorkeling tour of Stingray City, a world-renowned location for hundreds of stingrays who gather to be fed by tourist boats; the largest of these monsters measured four feet across! The group was able to video some of the excitement (click here to view). The group also received a tour of a turtle farm where green sea turtles are raised for local island food; we were lucky enough to hold not only the young hatchlings but also the older ones weighing 100 pounds or more. A late-night trip to the bay near Rum Point revealed glowing waters caused by microscopic dinoflagellates (single celled protists). The group paddled their kayaks through masses of these unearthly creatures. Students stayed at a hotel on the famous Seven-Mile Beach, allowing them direct access to some of the world’s best coral reefs and unlimited snorkeling. They were able to examine the reefs and learn about the island’s marine conservation efforts and how the government planned to conserve these dwindling resources. This was one of the best marine science trips to date. I look forward to continued work with the Cayman Islands Environmental Department in the future.

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Updated 2/16/09

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