The 2011 Sea TURTLE teen diving expedition is back in Boston. In this post, Lee shares her final thoughts on her experience with the program.
I learned the most about myself during the night dive at the Sapona wreck. It helped me see that I am much more capable than I give myself credit for. I worked really hard, through doubts, lack of confidence and swimming ability to acquire the experience that I value as one of my greatest accomplishments so far.
My perspective on the oceans has also become more firmly established. We know that the oceans are one big mass of water, connected to each other, but looking out at Boston Harbor, you would never imagine they connect to the warm waters of the Bahamas and their coral reefs.
Although the habitats are extremely different in warm tropical waters versus the colder New England waters, when it comes down to it, the basic make up of life in the oceans is still the same. Microscopic plankton are everywhere and they grow up into different species depending on their ancestors' adaptations to their environments but that doesn't change the fact that a Caribbean spiny lobster and an American lobster are all crustaceans that reside in the ocean. They are different species but are ultimately interconnected by similar traits and adaptations.
After personally traveling the entire way via plane and boat (for the first time) from Boston to Bimini, it has become a much greater realization to me that the ocean is indeed one great body of water that is shared with the entire world. The responsibility for taking care of it therefore should also be shared with the entire world. Just because Boston isn't anywhere near a coral reef, doesn't mean that the carbon dioxide we emit here won't contribute to the coral bleaching taking place in the corals down there.
We all need to share in the responsibility of caring for our oceans and the first step in accomplishing that is to admit that we need to take our own responsibility for it first. Otherwise, there would be no way to spread the sentiments to others. Being a part of Sea TURTLE and living on the boat surrounded by the oceans for ten days has given me a much greater appreciation for the natural beauty of the water and all the life that resides in the world beneath it. I, in turn, feel much closer to the ocean and have a greater desire to present, promote and protect it.
Sapona wreck at sunset
My perspective on the oceans has also become more firmly established. We know that the oceans are one big mass of water, connected to each other, but looking out at Boston Harbor, you would never imagine they connect to the warm waters of the Bahamas and their coral reefs.
Lee
Although the habitats are extremely different in warm tropical waters versus the colder New England waters, when it comes down to it, the basic make up of life in the oceans is still the same. Microscopic plankton are everywhere and they grow up into different species depending on their ancestors' adaptations to their environments but that doesn't change the fact that a Caribbean spiny lobster and an American lobster are all crustaceans that reside in the ocean. They are different species but are ultimately interconnected by similar traits and adaptations.
Lee and our dive instructor Sarah on the way to the Sapona!
After personally traveling the entire way via plane and boat (for the first time) from Boston to Bimini, it has become a much greater realization to me that the ocean is indeed one great body of water that is shared with the entire world. The responsibility for taking care of it therefore should also be shared with the entire world. Just because Boston isn't anywhere near a coral reef, doesn't mean that the carbon dioxide we emit here won't contribute to the coral bleaching taking place in the corals down there.
Lee
We all need to share in the responsibility of caring for our oceans and the first step in accomplishing that is to admit that we need to take our own responsibility for it first. Otherwise, there would be no way to spread the sentiments to others. Being a part of Sea TURTLE and living on the boat surrounded by the oceans for ten days has given me a much greater appreciation for the natural beauty of the water and all the life that resides in the world beneath it. I, in turn, feel much closer to the ocean and have a greater desire to present, promote and protect it.
-Lee
[This link sorts all of Lee's posts]
Wow. Very wise words and well put too.
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