Programs Blog

Author: Amanda Newcombe, Bowdoin College

Our first couple of days in Moorea have been a whirlwind of adjusting to life on land, fun, and exploration. After living on a boat with the same 38 people for over a month, there are basic things on land that take readjusting to – the tables not being gimbled, waiting for cars to pass to cross the street, and having to walk more than 134 ft to get anywhere to name a few. Being on land also comes with its joys, such as contacting family, regular sized beds, and long showers. This being said, there are many things I miss about the boat including, but certainly not limited to, the community, science deployments, sail handling, helm, and lookout.

Luckily, the transition back to land has been full of fun exciting activities! I’ve gone swimming multiple times each day since being here, and getting to go night swimming while watching bioluminescence was a very special experience. I’ve also really enjoyed swimming at the beach and jumping off the dock at Gump Station. To top it all off, snorkeling adds an extra cool dimension to swimming. While the coral near here is predominantly dead, it is currently still providing a habitat for many species, the rays and vibrantly colored fish being among my favorite things I’ve ever seen in the ocean. Beyond the swimming, another special aspect of Gump Station is the view. I’m staying in one of the hillside bungalows, so, after a steep trek up the road to the bungalow, I can enjoy sitting on the balcony with views of the mountains and ocean, which is especially nice after it cools off in the evening and the sun begins to set.

After a free day yesterday filled with swimming and snorkeling, today we resumed class (but still had time to swim and snorkel!). In the morning, we took a field trip to an ecological museum where we learned about the geology, ocean ecosystem, and culture of Moorea. After lunch, we met in our research groups to plan out and work on data analysis. Sitting on the balcony listening to birds and insects with a cool breeze while overlooking the ocean is a very special environment to be in while analyzing physical ocean properties and copepod biodiversity data!

Amanda Newcombe, Bowdoin College

https://sea.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_8617-scaled.jpeg