Students plunge into underwater ecology
Print Edition
My summer of 2015 was extremely unique for one reason. This summer I was able to participate in an underwater program like no other.
This program is known as the Marine Ecology Research Program. It is an annual data collection program for Concordia students held in Thailand and run by scuba divers.
The program takes place every June, on a boat in the waters around Phi Phi Island. This year I participated in the trip, and was able to become a certified scuba diver. Preparation to become certified began months before the actual trip, and there was a lot study and practice involved before we even left Shanghai.
Although downtown Phuket was very exciting and fun, it wasn’t the reason we took part in this program. We spent only one night in a hotel, and set out the very next day for Phi Phi Island. When we reached the dock, we abandoned our shoes and climbed onto the boat, a large vessel able to comfortably hold our team of 30.
The main reason for our trip was to check the local reef. Once we all received our scuba diving certification, we spent the rest of our time collecting reef data. Three examples of reef data that we collected were: fish species counts, invertebrate counts, and coral counts. By counting the number of different fish, invertebrate, and coral species, scientists are able to determine the health of the ecosystem in that particular area.
My experience with the Marine Ecology Research Program was amazing. Every day brought us new and exciting challenges. We made a lot of friendships and memories, and all while helping preserve an incredible underwater environment. All in all, it was a fantastic experience that nobody could regret signing up for.
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