Bermuda Day 5 - June 9th

Today started around the same time as the rest of the trip. After a quick breakfast at 7:45, we packed up and headed onto the bus for our first activity of the day. After about a 40 minute bus ride, we arrived at our destination. Our first task was Bermudian plant identification. We hiked for about 15 minutes to Warwick Long Bay, where we set our bags down in a small enclosed bay before heading off to identify different plant species. We sketched each plant in our journals and identified the adaptations they have developed to survive in Bermuda's harsh coastal conditions, such as thick leaves, waxy coatings, and deep root systems.

Once we finished identifying plants, everyone slowly made their way back to where we had set up. While we waited for the group to finish, some people added more detail to their journal drawings, some went swimming in the bay, and others just relaxed on the beach. Once everyone had returned, Brian explained that our next activity would be snorkeling from the bay out toward Warwick Reef.

We geared up and entered the water. As soon as we left the shelter of the bay, the conditions changed. The waves were much larger, and the current was strong enough to push us toward the nearby rocks if we weren't paying attention. While we were swimming farther offshore, it began to rain, and you could hear the soft sound of the raindrops hitting the surface from underwater.

Farther from shore, we reached several large circular rock formations called boilers. They get their name because they rise close to the surface, causing waves to break over them and create bubbling water that looks like it is boiling. Inside many of these boilers were healthy reefs full of marine life. If you timed it correctly, you could even use the waves to help carry you into the center. As the weather continued to worsen, the waves became larger and the current stronger, so we decided to head back toward shore for everyone's safety and comfort.

Back on the beach, we had a short break before continuing our hike. Some people worked on their journals, others went swimming again, and a few of us threw a frisbee while we waited. We then continued hiking for another 20 minutes or so, stopping occasionally at cliff overlooks with incredible views of the coastline. We also stopped at a small beach, where we had about half an hour to swim and relax before continuing on to Horseshoe Bay, one of Bermuda's most popular beaches and a common stop for cruise ship visitors. Before getting back on the bus, we used the restrooms to rinse the sand off as best we could.

During the bus ride, we ate the lunches we had packed earlier that morning. The drive gave everyone a chance to eat, talk, and rest before our final snorkel of the day. Although we were all feeling tired, we got changed and headed into the water at Admiralty House Park. The bay itself was mostly sand, so we had to swim out toward the reef. Because of the storm earlier in the day, the visibility was much poorer than usual and there was a lot of sediment suspended in the water. As a result, we didn't see as many fish as we had on previous days, and most of the ones we did see were smaller. We did, however, observe plenty of Bermuda Bream, schools of Silversides, and a Queen Parrotfish that was missing its tail. Since everyone was exhausted and the conditions weren't ideal, we ended the snorkel a little earlier than planned.

We returned to BIOS around 4:30, earlier than expected. The extra time gave everyone a chance to shower and finally wash off what felt like an endless amount of sand before dinner. After dinner, we entered our survey data, worked on our journals, and spent the rest of the evening relaxing before another full day of fieldwork.

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