Rocking the reef

It's funny how time seems to stand still when there are no watches, email or any memos hitting desk or mailbox. We hit the shore early with tarps and spikes to put up a number of tents for our reef reconstruction project. What was not taken into consideration was lack of supplies along with high tide. A handful of us had to walk the beach and locate rock and sticks that would serve as basic materials for our lean-too tents that one might find on an episode of survivor. In 95 degree temps we were hauling volcanic rock down the beach to initially prop against large lumbar that took the place of poles with our tarps and eventually used as barriers as the tide rolled in.
Our task today was to build 2" deep structures in the sand that replicated reefs and stir concrete that would lie on the base of the sand and after drying we would place at the ocean's floor. It has been awesome to be part of this process & the stages involved. I was dripping with sweat to the point I couldn't even see, but after a dip in the deep blue all was good with the world. The 12 of us managed to kick out 5 varieties of reef structures that will be dropped out in the sea later in the week.
I went for a dive later in the day with a small group of us and as the sun hung mid-sky we were able to see sea turtles, puffer fish & a number of angel fish. The colors in the seas are amazing and almost surreal. The heat takes a toll, but I feel like our tasks and the opportunities we have had are amazing. Even though my bed has more springs than the Hoover Dam, all is well and each opportunity is what you make of it. We had a great send off for Todd, one of our group members who is a science teacher in D.C., with plenty of Bahamian fare and some cervecas to enjoy another day as the sun sets here on the Caribbean.
Another beautiful day with plenty of sun, study & sand that would be hard to replicate elsewhere. We are literally in the middle of the ocean with very few who have ever been here and even more who even know this island exists; that reality makes the experience even more epic. Sweet : )




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