MCC's Marine Biology Study Ablog 2024

 One of my favorite parts about this trip was the beautiful photography opportunities at each location, with perfect lighting and weather in practically every location it made for some stunning photos of the world around us. The group checks out a brittlestar behind cedo. Isla san jorge , a beautiful day for watching sea lions , although the sun was blinding day-of , the photos and videos turned out beautifully. Cholla bay mudflats , a stingray was found and everyone moved in to check him out! It was a baby stingray but still very interesting to witness. Shorebirds minding their beeswax and having a good time on the beach. Vina del Mar twin spotted octopus. To conclude it was an amazing week filled with lots of trips to many different shorelines and a glimpse into the " behind the scenes" of ocean life, from the mollusks to the arthropods, it was a a sight to behold. I think on a return trip I'd go at an even earlier time and make a timelapse video of the underwater secti

The day at vina was very interesting, we explored a particularly rocky beach formation and traversed in search of snails , octopus, crabs and sea sponges. The search yielded some rather wonderful results. A black brittlestar age unknown but found in vina del mar and very interesting rocky intertidal creature. tiny two-spotted octopus is very very cute Tedania tropicalis looks like a little volcano sponge. It is a rather peculiar little creature, squishy but firm. Flishy flishy there goes the fishy, this unlucky little guy had a hook stuck in his mouth but thankfully it was pulled out and he was set free to go on his way back into the vast ocean. He appears to be a spotted bay bass.   I found the vina environment very interesting and I would love to go back on a boat or even earlier in the day to explore further down the rock formation. The water was very beautiful and it was astonishing to see how many creatures fit in such small spaces. 12/10 would go again.