The evening beforehand, I briefed the team on the three main aims of our next day’s surveying. These included conducting a dedicated search for cetaceans in two key locations and investigating a new location for a regular snorkel transect. With a little careful planning as to the necessary equipment, logistics and personnel requirements, the next morning we set off on schedule, bright and early.
The areas I had decided to survey are known to be where the sighting of dolphins is quite rare. So it was not surprising that we didn’t encounter any. If we had wanted an almost guaranteed sighting, we could have gone to a different area, but that wasn’t the point of my survey day. I wanted to look into if they were also active in a different nearby area. This could have supported a future increase in the Marine Protected Area. However, they were not there. Only additional days at sea would provide a better picture as to the situation. As for the new transect location, we did identify one which a few of the team members were quick to remark provided one of the best collections of reef fish they had yet seen. It has subsequently been added to the regular transect list.
All things considered, my survey leader day went smoothly, efficiently and without any problems. Two things have sprung to mind following it. One is that it is worth remembering that the collection of useful, important data can be a very slow process and patience in this regard is always required. The other is that it is good when everything runs according to plan and without any hiccups. If only every day on an expedition was like this. But then having said this, where would be the fun that comes in having to sort out a crisis of some sort? I do enjoy a challenge now and again! Perhaps next time I should overlook some important health and safety concerns. That could provoke one... haha!
That was, of course, only a joke.
That was, of course, only a joke.
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