I have been here now for over 5 weeks and loving every minute of my experience here, but the last week has probably been the most awesome week of my entire Life. We started the week by going out on my first open water dive at Tunnel Rock which is a huge coral outcropping that has a crack through it that you are able to swim through. Doing the dive was unbelievable- it’s a whole other world and being able to breathe under water and get up close to all the marine wildlife was so cool, it was nothing like a swimming pool which I had dove in for my dive class. We saw an abundance of fish just like I did when I snorkeled but this time I could swim up close and get a good look. The week continued by with our first long line of the season where we caught a 6 foot nurse shark which was so insane being able to get that up close and personal with such a large mighty animal! The next few long line sets were a little disappointing due to yellow tail snapper coming and stealing our bait so we had 3 whole lone line sets with no sharks but all that changed on Wednesday May 6 2009 which is currently as of right now the most incredible exciting best day of my life so far. We started off the day early leaving a little after 7 and headed for wall zone three. It was a spectacular day with blue skies with large cumulus clouds and water that looked like a glass mirror with no wave except those made by the boat. When we got to the site we saw a large Mahi dolphin jump out of the water a good 7-8 times. I had a feeling that today was going to be a good day. So Edd is pulling up the line and he shouts out “looks like we got a shark” and so I go and look over and I see this gigantic 6 foot reef shark and I go absolutely bananas!!!!!! I was so excited it was one of the coolest things ever. So I then stand on the opposite side of the boat so that Edd, Jazz and Alannah could secure it measure it and tag it. Edd then calls me over so that I could hold the pectoral fins while he removed the hook and then he showed me how to release it and off it went. We went down the line and caught 2 more reef sharks right in a row. We were out long lining all day and it was so fantastic we were mostly catching nurse sharks but then all of a sudden we saw a really dark shadow and it didn't look like a nurse and as we pulled up we could see the stripes of a tiger shark I literally went ballistic Edd had to calm me down but it was freaking awesome !!!!! We then measured and tagged as usual and then Edd called me to come and look up close and hold it. It was a dream come true to be holding this awesome predator that I have loved my whole life- a truly memorable moment. So basically I am having the best day of my life and I’m on the biggest high of my life- I felt on top of the world and my adrenalin was pumping from how awesome the day had been. We go to pick up the last line and were hauling it in and we’re not seeing any sharks and I start thinking in my head well it’s ok if we don’t have a shark on this line because we have all ready caught 3 reef sharks, 4 nurse sharks and a baby tiger shark so it would be okay if we didn't have a shark. But then as were pulling on the last buoy we see a huge dark shadow in the water and I go up to the bow and look over and I can see this gigantic shark shaped figure and every one on the boat goes this is going to be a big one we pull it up and its another tiger shark and I felt like my life was complete I could have died a happy man after the day I had. So we get it up and I’m standing on the other side so I don’t tip the boat while they are measuring and they read off the total length and it was a 10 and ½ foot shark. I was basically like jumping up and down like a kid on Christmas morning thank god every one was able to calm me down. Edd then called me over and let me hold his pectoral fins as he took the hook out. When I bent down and held him I looked at the tiger shark and I had a flash back of every time I had seen a tiger shark in a book, on the TV, in a national Geographic. I thought to myself - I am holding a 10 foot tiger shark in tonic immobility, this is the best moment in my entire living life and that moment is indescribable. I have never felt like that! I sadly only have a few weeks left here but the whole time were going to be long lining and it’s going to be fantastic. - Adam Baugh

Hammerhead!

The month of April is coming to a close and I have been at CEI almost 4 weeks. I have been keeping very busy working with the shark team. We’ve been going out on the boat almost every day conducting baited remote under water video surveys (BRUVS for short!). I have a blast going out and working with the team. We have 90 minutes in between dropping the video units in and picking them back up so it gives us time to just be out on the water and go snorkeling or look for shells on the sand banks, and we have now also started catching lion fish for a research project. When we are done BRUVing we watch the video surveys and it’s always exciting to see the sharks come up to the bait bag. This past week we captured a big male great hammerhead - IT WAS SO COOL!!!. We are almost finished with BRUVS, all though we have had to redo a few due to the pesky yellow tail snappers who very frequently will consume all the bait before the video time is over! This has been a set back along with some bad weather and as a result has delayed the start of long-lining. Besides fieldwork I have also had the opportunity to help with the lemon shark research in the lab at CEI. We are conducting 4 different experimental treatments with 8 juvenile lemon sharks. We hold each shark for about a month and conduct the trials and then release them. I have had the privilege to help with the trial by holding the sharks in tonic immobility (TI) which is a sleep like state sharks go into when they are rolled on their backs. I also got to go out and release two sharks Bob and Wedge and also help to catch two more. I am half way through my two months and I love it. This is a wonderful place and the stuff I get to do is fantastic. I can’t wait to go long lining and scuba diving!!!! - Adam Baugh

Shark research

Coming to CEI has been incredible!!! I have loved every minute of it. Every morning I wake up and look outside at paradise and I say to my self how awesome it is that I get to be here for two whole months in this beautiful and exciting place. There are so many great things I love doing here. The first is working hands on with sharks. When I held ‘Wedge’, a lemon shark, for the first time it was one of the greatest feelings I have ever had! I love the fact that I am able to work everyday with my favorite animal in the world. I have also been learning so much about how to do scientific research both in the field and in the lab, getting a really good idea of what working with sharks is like. I have also enjoyed other aspects of Eleuthera as well. I have had a blast going into Deep Creek, the local settlement, and hanging at Cheryl's restaurant. I also really liked going into Rock Sound for homecoming last weekend and dancing! The marine life is spectacular and I have really enjoyed snorkeling here. I have seen a variety of colorful tropical fish, a spotted moray eel, sea turtles , sting rays , sharks, loads of barracudas, and some awesome coral reefs . I can’t wait to start the long-lining study and catching sharks. I have been having a great time here so far and I look forward to the rest of my experience here. It’s going to be fun!! -Adam Baugh

Arrivals!

Our first 3 GAP-ers have arrived! Georgina from New York, Sarah from Colorado, and Adam from Virgina all touched down on Eleuthera last week and jumped straight into things. Watch this space for news on their exciting adventures over the next 8 weeks.