Today was our first trip to the outer reef. A cloudy, almost stormy day but we were determined to make it out there. Climbing into a rocking float boat was awkward, but when you're surrounded by friends awkward becomes funny. Not a one of us climbed in gracefully, but we made it and were happy to get out there. The boat trip was a little rocky and well slightly unsettling as we continued to get into open water. If anybody else had any nervousness, they hid it well. I watched the island get further and further curious to what secrets the open ocean would hold. Once we got to our departure point we had to get our gear on, sit on the edge of the boat, octopus grab our face and "gracefully" fall backwards into the water. We all splashed down into the water unaware of the magical world that lay beneath us. If I could open my mouth under water without drowning I very well might have screamed with delight. The layers upon layers of reef alone were incredible. How the grew on top of one another, jutting out and through creating cliffs and canyons I'd never seen before. The diversity of marine life was astounding. Schools of fish swam through everything, feeding on the algae across the coral or even the coral itself. Their feeding sounded like static under the water. I never imagined under water to be so loud but the liquid environment carries it quite well. As we wandered through the water, learning how to dive and depressurize my ears I began to feel a bit overwhelmed. All the fins and people, so much to look at. I couldn't keep my mind on any one thing. I found myself swimming in circles trying to stay near the group. Many times I would get distracted by a parrot fish and begin following it until I was a bit too far from the group. Other times I would get stuck on a single fish and float there in awe of the life it lives every day. My partner had to check to make sure that I was okay a couple times because I was quite stuck in my own world. After a while I became comfortable in the water and starting diving myself. Quite the challenge in wet suits that make you float like a cork but I think I'm starting to get it down. After the first location we loaded back into the boat and went to explore another. This one had so many different kinds of coral and was closer to the reef edge. I was weary about getting in at first. The waves were a little intense and the current a bit strong. Upon first entering the water a wave came over and filled my snorkel tube with saltwater. I'm unsure of how much saltwater I drank today, but I'm sure it was well over the daily recommended amount. Once I got that all situated I put my mask in the water and began exploring the reef. Almost immediately I saw two spotted eagle rays gliding through but they quickly disappeared into the depths. Graceful creatures they are. We continued further down the reef. It was here that I witnessed a couple of reef tip shark (both black and white) hunting near the lower edge. They are incredible creatures and mostly just leave us humans alone. I am so amazed by their physiology. Made almost completely of cartilage, the only bone is there jaw bone but they swim with such speed and vigor. The coral structures here were incredible though I did notice some bleached areas. I wonder what caused it. Temperature rise in the ocean? Too much CO2 in the water? Did the coral's algae friends piss off for other reasons? I'm not sure, but seeing the stark white against the rest of the very alive reef was intense and saddening. Roughly 90% of the Great Barrier Reef has succumb to bleaching, much of it attributed to global climate change. A climate shift that is without a doubt anthropogenic, at least to a large degree. I dwelled on that for a moment before continuing towards Heron's Bommie. A large coral mound rich in marine life. The shelves and hideaways of the bommie made the perfect safe haven for fish and other organisms. I watched my professor (Trisha Atwood) dive down a handful of time but wasn't sure what she was looking at. I turned away for a moment and shortly thereafter a sea turtle came out of hiding. I followed it for a minute. Then a classmate came shooting through and the turtle quickly diverted. For an animal that chooses to go to slow it has the speed and agility when it needs it. That marked the end of this trip to the outer reef, but we have another one scheduled in a few days. The ocean is as beautiful as she is terrifying and deserves respect. She provides life and safe haven or destruction and I think that should be remembered. An unforgiving mistress riddled with secrets. Humans cannot survive without the ocean. While the ocean and its inhabitants can and will bounce back in time, its services make all other life possible. In destroying the planet's ecosystems we are disrupting natural evolutionary patterns and decreasing our own quality of life. The beauty we have here is to be cherished and appreciated. We are all one system sharing the same floating ball in space. We can make our connection with the planet better or we can wipe ourselves out. Really up to us. For our sake I hope we wake up and make changes to better the situation before we are forced to. There is no longer a question of if, only of when. A somber ending thought process to the day, but I think important to keep at the forefront of my mind as I move forward into my future.
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About MeAn educated outdoor enthusiast with a passion for the planet and all its inhabitants, I wish to be a liaison between the scientific world and the public. I believe that knowledge and compassion are the keys to understanding and bettering our complex existence on this beautiful Earth. Archives |