Michelle McAloon
Studied in Honduras, Summer 2012
Most of the culture of Roatan, Honduras involves scuba diving, fishing, snorkeling, and other ocean activities. In the local towns we visited there were numerous dive shops and tourist-like shops to buy t-shirts as well gifts and other little treasures from the sea. Experiencing the culture of this island was definitely first hand for me including twenty-seven dives throughout the two weeks. I was fortunate to see so many different kinds of fish, coral, and other animals living down under. On the white sandy bottoms I noticed mostly crabs and lobsters which play a huge role in the food industry. People are killing so many crabs and lobsters each year for to make profits in restaurants and markets. They are incredible looking and have a unique lifestyle. I got to see up close and personal this giant lobster and how it feeds and moves around. There are so many great dive spots around this island that is only about thirty miles in length but nonetheless numerous opportunities to see the other half of the world. The vibrant colors and hundreds of species of animals draw people to Roatan again and again and one day I hope to return.