Tobago Expedition: Day 15

As all the local boats were booked today, we couldn’t get out to dive. Spent most of the day studying and taking tests. I passed the coral health test but failed the algae exam. I recognized the different algae, I just couldn’t wrap my head around their names. With names like Stypopodim Zonale, Halimeda, Avrainvillea, Acetabularia and Wrangelia Penicillata, I miss multiple choice tests.
Around 5 o’clock, we shuttled on over to the Speyside community center. Our project science officer had arranged to give a lecture to the locals, informing them of Coral Cay as an organization, who they are, what they do, and asking for local support. It’s exactly what Coral Cay should be doing in the community that we are a part of in Charlotteville. Why the organization has chosen one community over the other is beyond me, but it was good to see some community outreach of any kind.
The lecture was quite good. The project science officer took a different approach from the mini-lecture he had previously given to us volunteers. It was fresh, informative and thorough. He talked about Coral Cay’s mission, how the government invited us in, and the ultimate goal of this specific project. He also spent a lot of time relating our work to the community, explaining that coral destruction negatively affects two of Tobago’s main sources of revenue- fishing and tourism. He went on to discuss ways that actions on land (road construction, hotel building, deforestation, etc.) affect marine line, and things one can do to minimize the negative impact of these projects. He wrapped up by introducing the scholarship program offered by Coral Cay and inviting everyone in the community to apply.
It was a well thought out presentation appealing to the local audience. Unfortunately, there were only three locals in attendance. Apparently, word of the lecture hadn’t gotten out. Of the people who did attend, there was good interaction during Q&A and it was recommended he give this lecture again after the locals had a chance to spread the news of who Coral Cay really is. The reaction might have been small, but it was clearly positive.
After the lecture, our group walked the length of town to perform a very important public service. One of the gang who works at the dive center where we get our tanks filled had his birthday party this evening. His twenty first. We decided we would be remiss in our community relations responsibilities to not attend. It wasn’t a pleasure, it was a duty. Or so we told our expedition leader. We were approved to attend, but had to stick to the four-beer limit as tomorrow is still a dive day. Yeah, right.
As it came time for all good children to say goodnight, we ganged up on him and were able to slide the, “It would be rude to leave” line past him. Fortunately, he was having fun and wanted an excuse to stay longer. The booze limit went out the window, and so did the dive we had planned for tomorrow morning- a compromise we were all happy to make. It was a crazy blow out that included grilled burgers, chicken wings, ribs, and the granddaddy of them all, freshly caught grilled lobster. I ate enough protein to balance out the carbohydrate overload of the last two weeks. Oh Nellie, it was good.