Turtle Island Restoration Network just returned from our April 2019 Cocos Island Dive Expedition. This is part one of a series highlighting the trip, as reported by Executive Director and Trip Leader Todd Steiner. Part two is available here. Our next expedition is June 2019. Please join us!
It was extremely smooth seas and sunny weather on the crossing to Cocos Island with bottlenose dolphins riding the bow waves day and night. Evening viewing was accentuated by the biolumenscence trailing from the flukes!
Masked and brown boobies swam circles around the Argos, chasing and feeding of the flying fish and taking to the air after being startled by the vessel.
A pair of juvenile laughing seagulls accompanied the vessel all the way to Cocos Island.
Unusual visitors to the boat on the crossing included a Tennessee warbler who landed on the deck and was treated to some mango and water by our participants, allowing us to observe her very closely. We also had a few barn swallows who also rested onboard, and a juvenile laughing seagull that when not flying, sometimes rested onboard, and accompanied the vessel all the way to Cocos Island.
A Tennessee warbler is treated to some mango and water.
When we weren’t wildlife viewing, we were explaining, preparing and testing the research equipment, including hydrophones and acoustic and satellite tags for sharks and sea turtles, and providing a briefing of the research goals and objectives.
Dive participants are briefed on Turtle Island Restoration Network’s research objectives.
Executive Director Todd Steiner provides an overview of the research conducted on expeditions.
The research vessel, the MV Argo.
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