Earth Day celebration - sorta

This week is the 2nd week in the mid-semester break. We spend the whole of last week marking students mid-term test. Most of the tutors who were marking were complaining that the University cut the pay they gave us for marking; how bad students answers were etc. However, it was extra cash, and we NEVER turn down some decent money for decent work.

Today, we finished some marking for our labs, and I had done some analysis for my data. So we decided to go for a shore dive at our local spot - Enclosure Bay. It's free, it's there, and the "vacation people" are back home and the bay is not so crowded. The high tide was at 12.35pm, so we geared up, and was at the Bay at around 12.45pm. Maybe it was because we were a bit late, and the tide was already starting to go back out, or maybe it was the amount of rain we got the last couple of days... the visibility wasn't that great. However, we got about 45mins of bottom time, saw a couple of fishes, lots of triple-finned fishes, a clown nudibranch, lots of inverts etc.

And on the way back home, Hannah reminded me that we should take a picture so that we can remember our 1st dive in Enclosure Bay in year 2014. BTW, Happy Earth Day, and there is no better way to celebrate it than going diving :)

Fish / coral tank update

Actually not much to update. Everything is doing fine. Coral frags are starting to grow and compete for space. It is quite clear to see which corals uses what strategy to gain some advantage. Pavona is making a huge space around it by stinging everything around it, the plating Montipora is growing fast, covering huge grounds and shield any coral below it from the light, but it is also "running" away from the stinging nematocysts of the neighbouring purple Acropora. The twin Hydropora has very strong nematocysts and having been keeping the Seriatopora in check, otherwise, the Seriatopora will take over the entire rock due to its fast brunching growth!

It is a race in the tank!