September 2007
by Joel Ortega

The third phase of volunteering in CEA’s reef monitoring subprogram started on June 11. Four volunteers arrived after crossing the Atlantic Ocean, and they began their adventures in the world of reef monitoring and diving in Akumal, México.

As part of the training, the volunteers needed to learn the fish and coral species and to identify them without any doubt. That was three-weeks' work and I’m proud to say that they did a great job, studying hard, going snorkeling to look for the species in beautiful Akumal Bay, and completing the training with spot diving. Complementary lectures on reef fish and coral, ecology, etc. were needed to give a general overview of the ecosystem. At week 5 the monitoring training started and the best part began—diving!

But three months went by … that’s easy to say. After 90 days, while floating in the big blue ocean, with all the monitoring stuff dangling from you, watching your buddies’ big smiles and waiting for the boat, you realize that this was the last dive, and they did a great job.

The volunteers are now getting ready to go back to their places, taking within them all the diving in paradise, and all the hard work turned into conservation. Now they are not just divers, they are “scientific” divers, fulfilling all the goals expected for the program.

Today, those 90 days flash back to our minds: hard work, fun, water, buoys, moorings, hurricanes, parties … but the most important thing is that they mark the beginning of a great new friendship.

Thanks to you all! ¡Hasta luego, amigos!

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