Day 11 Problem solving and surveying

Derek explaining that force fins are designed on marine mammal fins.

Today, of course, started with knots and language lessons after breakfast.  We began to work on knots that are for joining two pieces of line and started learning the days of the week in Albanian. Today was also our first 2 dive day with skill building, but first gear selling.  We had a “yard sale” where everyone talked about their gear and what they did and did not like about it.  I want to try Derek’s crazy force fins and like his mask strap that is also a mask pocket that protects your glass in transit, it even floats most masks in the water (marsoop is the brand).    Everyone else geared up for sunny climates I was only one for low light, it was fun to see all the different set ups.

Making it work!

Next we spent some time quadrat and RPC building when it was realized the quadrats had not accompanied the rest of the gear to Albania.  Howard had procured all the necessary PVC, corner joints, and such.  We found out the hard way that PVC in Albania isn’t made to fit into joint pieces as it is at home. Always the problem solvers we whittled the PVC and made it fit into the corner joints, we then used our extensive knot tying skills to set the cross pattern of strings within the area of the quadrat.  Our hard work was briefly interrupted when a herd of goats decided to cut through the middle of our work area.  

Figuring out how to run the lines on the quadrat.

Then after a short break for break lunch we took our quadrats and headed out to dive. I handed off beach master duties to Leslie.  We did   two dives back to back today and Lee was my buddy.  We swam out to what is now the normal point, dropped down. I spotted a beautiful shell and shook out bristle worm living in it.  Then it was time to address our business, we swam tape, set up a line on the proper heading, took quadrat one direction and did RPC the return, returned to shore to switch out tanks. After replacing an o-ring surface swim tiring but good.  Got back cleaned up & headed back home to shower & we swam out and repeated our process 10 meters down the line that was laid out.  We learned today that our survey area is mostly sea grass, which is very tough compared to PNW sea grass.  Today we had big swells at the surface and quite a bit of surface swimming which was tiring, but a good day all around. We had dinner at the delicious at Eagle’s Claw, where I had seafood risotto & grilled veggies.  I got very sleepy after dinner and headed back before others.  By the time I got home I felt pretty off my game, and by the middle of the night it was clear to me that I had food poisoning.

Class clowns.