Isla Mar Research Expeditions Guide to Services | Page 6

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Seagrass & Mangrove Habitats Lionfish Dissection & Handling
In La Parguera, we explore seagrass and mangrove
habitats through our collaboration with the University of
Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Department of Marine Sciences.
Students can snorkel these systems, observing benthic and
fish communities for comparison with coral reefs. We instruct students in the proper handling and dissection
of the invasive lionfish. Students learn about fish feeding
ecology and get their hands dirty to experience the daily
grind of a fish biologist. This session introduces local
graduate students who enjoy interacting with our groups.
El Yunque Rainforest Day Trip Caves, W aterfalls & Coffee Farms
As much as we would like to spend our entire field course
underwater, we must come up for air at some point. We
plan convenient breaks from field work and lectures to
explore the beauty of the island. A favorite has been the El
Yunque rainforest and water holes with an overnight stay
in the heart of the city of Old San Juan. We are proud to offer excursions to some of Puerto Rico's
iconic sites, but we also detour to locate unique attractions
that most tourists will not be visiting. We take advantage
of the free outdoor activities like hiking and cave
spelunking. We can certainly work with your budget to
give your students a well-rounded experience of the
island.
Safety is our middle name...
We know we cannot control nature. But we can prevent accidents by making smart choices in where and how we dive or
explore. Your guides will always be CPR, Oxygen Administration and AED certified. Most of us are also certified Dive
Masters, and we are all AAUS Scientific Divers. This is not our first rodeo. We are happy to supply any and all credentials to
ensure peace-of-mind. Oh and the mosquitoes? We provide plenty of bug spray, but we are pretty sure they don't like the
taste of science.
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