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Microbiologist Kathleen Janda descends with her dive partner, Alan Duckworth, during a morning dive on one of Bonaire's glorious reefs.
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The convolutions of a brain coral show how visual excitement can be found on these reefs at all scales.
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Searching for the right dive site, a diver points toward a small inlet. Although close to shore, the dives along here can be quite deep.
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Below, at around 50 feet, we encountered a coral ridge. The visibility was not as great as it was on many of our previous dives, but sunlight penetrated the water powerfully enough to cast beams of dancing light across the corals and creatures of the reef. Abundant soft corals swayed in a gentle current. Parrotfish grazed along the reef, chewing bits of algae off rocks like cows munching grass. A spotted eagle ray flew above the colorful coral heads and quickly disappeared over the lip of the reef.
We followed suit. I dropped over the ridge with my dive buddy and descended to 120 feet. The sunnier waters of the shallow reef darkened to a deep and ominous blue, yet the life at these depths is equally plentiful and just as intriguing.
The reef is untouched and, for the most part, healthy -- largely due to Bonaire's efforts to protect its waters. All of the island's surrounding waters, down to 200 feet, constitute the Bonaire Marine Park. Scuba divers entering Bonaire's pristine seas are required to wear a medallion on their buoyancy compensators (the vest-like piece of equipment worn to control flotation at different depths) indicating their compliance with the park's rules. In addition to a required orientation to reef awareness by park officials, divers are not permitted to wear gloves in the water, thus reducing the likelihood of contact with the delicate reefs.
A special permit allows our dive group to collect samples, but no one collected a thing on this morning's dive. The scientists simply did not find any of their target species. Everyone on this biomedical expedition is dedicated to promoting human AND environmental health, so all of our divers understand the necessity of protecting these remarkable reefs.
Tomorrow, the JOHNSON-SEA-LINK submersible continues its deep-sea exploration of the waters off the coast of Bonaire. I'll be joining the dive and seeing first-hand what the researchers are doing 3000 feet beneath the surface. |
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The dive team prepares to come along side of the Harbor Branch R/V EDWIN LINK. |
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