Well, it seems like things are winding down. We went on our last research dive. Our last night dive was also completed. The meals are becoming repetitive (yet no less satiating). My perfect pasty pale hue is also no more - I am toast with ruby red tomatoes. We have said our goodbyes to Edwin the divemaster and anticipate tearful farewells with Joseph, Richard and Calderone, respectively our server, captain and current divemaster, as well. The henna tattoos may fade but the sentimental memories of yesterday and yonder will remain, most likely.
The day began personally with waking far too early to run far too far. Inbetween desperate gasps for air, it was hard not to notice the stark contrast between resort life and that of most people on Roatan. The people are friendly, but I get the impression we’re only scratching a surface that is otherwise impenetrable from our limited purview as tourists. Breakfast came and passed, french toast, fruity parfaits, and scrambled eggs were awarded their rightful place amongst our digestive fluids. After that, dives followed. We witnessed a massive school of creole wrasse flood a cleaning station with far too many clients while a disgruntled tiger grouper looked on with impatience and apprehension. Our project is actually about the cleaning stations -the places fish go to rid themselves of parasites and other inconvenient skin conditions. Thus far, it seems that they’re much more common on top of the reef in shallow sunlit areas, in spite of an omnipresent surge in a few locations.
Lunch came and went as well, followed by a powerful food coma. After that, our group hiked up on of the larger hills on Roatan where we could appreciate the spectacle of nature on a more personal and distinctly sweaty level. The sun was strong today, and by about this point, I knew I was changing colors much like the reef fish at night (many of them adopt red hues as its the first color to leave underwater). Our night dive followed and proved definitively that humans are the most dangerous animals in the ocean. Sorry Caleb. Dinner happened after; a huge bug crawled up my leg while I was eating my burrito. No big deal.
I think that’s about it. Until tomorrow, dear reader.