Today was the first day, besides the checkout dive that divers could get into the water and dive, and it is also the first day we truly hit the grindstone. Each group spent their day collecting data and setting up research. The three groups in Team Fish and one group in Team Lizard each worked on their own projects.

Team Fish:

Group 1-
While diving, the ultraviolet light (UV) group spent the morning using a spear gun to catch butterfly fish (mostly nonlethal). After catching five fish, several photos were taken to test the UV camera and to see the UV-reflectance patterns on the fish. The pictures came out promising. (See Right - Bright spots indicate UV-reflectance and darker violet spots absorb UV).

Group 2-
While diving and later snorkeling, the larvae group spent their day looking for Indo-pacific sergeant major nests to gather eggs. Unfortunately, none were found.

Group 3-
While diving and later snorkeling, the pair-bonding group, spent their day observing butterfly fish and analyzing how they spent their time if they were a pair of fish or alone.

Team Lizard

Group 1-
The lizard group spent their day marking the Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates of several bushes/habitats and measuring their perimeter. Later in the night, the group set out on a gecko hunt to catch several geckos to race on various substrates.

The day was not all work and no play. We found time to get some gelatos (Italian frozen desert) from a local shop.

La Fin.

- Michael J. Decker