The day started with a lecture on coral formation and the teachers learned about the corals of Roatan, including massive brain corals, stately pillar corals and fragile lettuce corals, to name a few.
The second half of the lecture featured research that has been conducted in Roatan that shows that hurricanes, global warming, and human impacts have taken a toll on the coral cover along the island. After the lecture, the group headed to a dive/snorkel to actually see these fascinating reef builders.
Unfortunately, the group was able to see some of the damage on the reef as well. Divers have been known to "love the reef to death" and some of this damage is visible on the reef. Although the group is instructed on proper treatment of the reef, uneducated divers often touch, kick, or stand on the coral doing damage that will take years to recover from. We headed to Maya Key, where we enjoyed an island lunch and a tour of their animal refuge, that included monkeys, toucans, macaws, and cats, such as a margay and a jaguar.
As we headed back to AKR, we stopped for the final dive/snorkel of the day. Several hawksbill sea turtles swam along with our group, probidig an exciting end to a busy day on the reef.
As we go on to educate the next generation of stakeholders, we need to make students realize the vital role that coral reefs play in the health of the world's oceans. That is another reason why COSEE Great Lakes teaches educators about Ocean Literacy principles. Without our oceans, our world would not be as healthy or as beautiful as it is. Here's to the coral reefs of the world...a small veneer that adds beauty and color, and feed the engine of the marine feed webs!!
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