Ben_ca
Contributor
Reefcheck Class Report- 12-13 May 07
Monterey CA
Day 1
This weekend I had a chance to spend some quality time with a real marine biologist... The class was a blast... with divers getting together with pretty much one goal... To learn a bit more about our local waters and be able to give back a little to the community
The class was held in the Monterey Bay Aquarium... No trip to Monterey is complete without visiting this jewel... The exhibits are outstanding and very well put together.
We gathered in a back classroom and got to work. We talked about the goals of Reefcheck and the science behind the program. The bottom line is we must gather data... if we don't know what's happening with our reefs we cannot do anything to help them....Are they healthy... are they hurting? Without the data there isn't much we can do...
Okey back to the report. The classroom was very nice... tucked in the back of the aquarium with a gorgeous view of Hopkins Marine lab... The bright sun and clear water was very distracting and it took alot to sit there and not stare out toward the water
Lecture went fast and after a quick lunch at Fish Mongers we went back and got some new toys to play with.
Don checking out survey tape
Then it was into the part I dreaded the most... Fish ID...
Mostly when I dive I see the fishies and can tell a rock fish from the others (perch, ling ect) but now trying to tell a Blue from a Black?)... That's why we have a Marine Biologist teaching us.
Oh and another thing that's great about having the Aquarium host this is that your classroom field trips rock!
Monterey CA
Day 1
This weekend I had a chance to spend some quality time with a real marine biologist... The class was a blast... with divers getting together with pretty much one goal... To learn a bit more about our local waters and be able to give back a little to the community
The class was held in the Monterey Bay Aquarium... No trip to Monterey is complete without visiting this jewel... The exhibits are outstanding and very well put together.
We gathered in a back classroom and got to work. We talked about the goals of Reefcheck and the science behind the program. The bottom line is we must gather data... if we don't know what's happening with our reefs we cannot do anything to help them....Are they healthy... are they hurting? Without the data there isn't much we can do...
Okey back to the report. The classroom was very nice... tucked in the back of the aquarium with a gorgeous view of Hopkins Marine lab... The bright sun and clear water was very distracting and it took alot to sit there and not stare out toward the water
Lecture went fast and after a quick lunch at Fish Mongers we went back and got some new toys to play with.
Don checking out survey tape
Then it was into the part I dreaded the most... Fish ID...
Mostly when I dive I see the fishies and can tell a rock fish from the others (perch, ling ect) but now trying to tell a Blue from a Black?)... That's why we have a Marine Biologist teaching us.
Oh and another thing that's great about having the Aquarium host this is that your classroom field trips rock!