Blog Post 3 - Snorkeling Adventure – Laura

 

Yesterday was snorkeling in the crystal-clear Mediterranean sea in a protected  area where there was no current with which to contend.  This activity was  something I had looked forward to the entire trip!

 

We have been studying bony fish, dissecting a bony fish but now we were able to see them in their natural habitat.  I saw  12-15 inches long sea grass for the first time. I have snorkeled in Hawaii  and the Caribbean but in those places,  it is  mainly algae the fish nibbled off the rocks. Dr. Cheroske said the fish are not really nibbling/eating the grass but tiny little organisms attached to the grasses.  

 

We saw  several schools of “saupe” which are about 8-10inches long and have yellow  horizontal stripes along their bodies. We also saw some damsel fish, bream and several small, pinkish jelly fish that I stayed away from! The crew on the boat would scoop up these little guys in a small net, spreading them out on deck for the sun to bake them for eating later.  Who would have thought!

 

                                            Saupe stock photo I found
 

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