New England Aquarium coral biologist Randi Rotjan, PhD, and aquarists Peter Gawne and Joe Masi have recently traveled to Belize to monitor coral health near Carrie Bow Cay. Tune in here for updates about their research and animal encounters, and see pictures from previous expeditions here, here and here. 

Today's post comes from Peter Gawne.

A large quantity of debris has gathered in an eddy behind the island.  Numerous coconuts, lumber, Styrofoam and even an entire palm tree are floating in the small debris field. Some of the debris, as well as a lot of dislodged algae, has washed up on the island itself. We’ve found some unusual seeds, small bits of trash and numerous snails and snail shells washed ashore by the unusually heavy waves. The hermit crabs were unusually active at the water’s edge once the waves subsided, prowling around for the possibility of a new home.

An elkhorn coral lays shattered and displaced shortly after the worst of the tropical storm.

A brief window in the weather allowed us to get out onto the reef and get the last of our transects done.  The waves were rather large which made for a rocky deck, and some heavy surge when underwater. The heavy storm conditions have affected the reef as well as the island above the waves.  Some large Acropora palmata have been dislodged and shattered in the shallows.  Some of the low-lying corals were also scoured by the sand.

Fresh damage on an elkhorn coral.

The weather service upgraded the tropical depression to Tropical Storm Barry. The impact on Belize’s coast was severe. Dangriga, our launch point to the Cays, was hit quite hard. The locals spoke of knee-deep water in the streets, and heavy winds that exacerbated the flooding. More intense weather was expected to come soon, so the effort was focused on bracing for the next storm, rather than picking up from Barry. I wish them well in the coming days.

New England Aquarium coral biologist Randi Rotjan, PhD, and aquarists Peter Gawne and Joe Masi have recently traveled to Belize to monitor coral health near Carrie Bow Cay. Tune in here for updates about their research and animal encounters, and see pictures from previous expeditions here, here and here. 

Today's post comes from Peter Gawne.

Conditions here at Carrie Bow have worsened. A tropical depression has formed off the coast of Belize. We’ve been pretty well socked in by the weather with winds sustained over 35 mph, and 11 inches of rain in the last 48 hours. Sea conditions have become very rough as well, with waves from 5 to 7 feet, which has kept us from being able to safely access the reef.

The heavy winds of Tropical Storm Barry begin to batter Carrie Bow Cay.

Even the hermit crabs seemed to know that it is going to be a bit of a rough ride. As the storm intensifies the crabs have headed for high ground. Midway through the afternoon many of the hermit crabs have climbed the palm trees, and are looking down on us from their coconut perches. It is amazing that the crabs can hang on while gale-force winds buffet the trees!

Water rises beneath the outbuildings, while waves build and crash over the reef.

For the humans on the island, it is a similarly rough ride. Our lodgings, while typically weather-tight, have met their match with this wind and rain. Many of us had a long sleepless night, trying in vain to stay warm and dry. It was an odd experience—sort of like trying to sleep as someone sprinkles you with a garden hose, accompanied by a high-pitched moaning of the wind through the rafters. It is not an experience I would care to duplicate.

New England Aquarium coral biologist Randi Rotjan, PhD, and aquarists Peter Gawne and Joe Masi have recently traveled to Belize to monitor coral health near Carrie Bow Cay. Tune in here for updates about their research and animal encounters, and see pictures from previous expeditions here, here and here. 

Today's post comes from Peter Gawne.

It has been an interesting week picking up where Randi and Joe left off.  Jay, Manda, and I have started wrapping up field transects, lionfish lab work and helping with filming wherever possible. [A BBC film crew was on the island to study hermit crab vacancy chains. Here's a guest post from the personal blog of cinematographer John Brown.]

Hermit crabs on Carrie Bow Cay | Photo: John Brown via

A goliath grouper holds in a deep overhang.

The transects in the field are going very well, although strong winds and rain are threatening to keep us shore-bound. When we are able to get underwater, we are seeing some fish that we rarely see on transects. Goliath groupers, midnight parrotfish and yellow-cheek wrasses have been some of the highlights.

A hawksbill turtles eyes the camera.

We’ve been seeing some rather large turtles with some frequency while diving. It should come as no surprise that turtles are in the area, as it is the time of year for turtles to haul up on the beach and lay their eggs. Amidst the recent stormy weather we were visited by a nesting turtle in the middle of the night. She came ashore, leaving tracks to show where she had excavated a nest in the sand. Belize Fisheries will come over to the island to assess the condition of the nest, if weather allows.

This large loggerhead turtle seemed especially interested in our party of divers.

When we encounter sea turtles underwater, they are often shy and reluctant to allow a close approach.  The turtles around Carrie Bow seem to be unusually curious during this trip, often approaching within arm’s reach. We have been really fortunate to have had some really close encounters with some rather large loggerhead and hawksbill sea turtles.