Day Three: Coral Identification dive and visit to Maya Key
After a filling breakfast, we headed off to the south side of the Island for a dive at Key Hole. The weather was great with calm seas and clear water (actually the weather has been wonderful the entire time). Identification tags were placed on 15 species of coral and the students swam around to each station and learned the names and physical characteristics of the different corals. Afterwards the group headed over to Maya Key, a private island off of Coxen Hole. After lunch of fresh fish (Wahoo) and fruit, we were given a tour of the zoo and a reconstruction of a Maya Village. On the way back to the marine lab we stopped for a dive at West End Wall and saw some large schools of Blue Chromis, a hawksbill turtle, and lots of other interesting organisms. Once back at the facility, it was time for a little R & R. Some of the students went out snorkeling on the reef while others enjoyed the pool before dinner and the evening lecture.