June 17^th

                                                                                                                                   

Water work day! Woke up early to a rainbow over the ocean and a pack of feral dogs getting it on outside my window.  Had our routine morning briefing with Junior (in addition to other insider info, he’s got the scoop on weather reports via radio – not a thing here otherwise and upon which our daily boating plans depend).  To Lam to transect today!  Worked with Lexina and she is getting super good.  Sharp coral, shallow water, and strong waves!  A combination for adventurous transecting.  Super healthy reef, high diversity and density.  Then off to check out the sunken ship site, the merchant cargo ship ZHAO, run aground and abandoned, rusty red from the hull all the way up, looming and huge and tilted at a demented-looking angle.                               

Then to Pigleilei lagoon for more transecting.  Reef was deep and pretty, but a little worse off for wear.  Super heavy rain began crackling on the surface like deafening hail, but the ocean was warm and calm underneath.  It felt so safe under the surface of the water, you’d get pelted above it.  I ate clam that Keenan and Miles pulled up and opened right there in the ocean.  It was bitter at first, becoming sweet and cucumber-y as you chewed the tough meat.  Giacomo caught some tiny baby clown fish (there are I think eight species in the lagoon) and they look like brilliant little fiery jewels.    

We caught a lot of air on the boat ride back to Falalop, almost as much as the flying fish around us.  Little bi-plane looking guys, bright blue.  Then rest and reading and tea at the lodge before more data entry and equipment organizing for the next day, our nightly ritual. 

There is a big old wall gecko in my and Shanthi’s room and I hope he’s hungry for bugs.  Goodnight!