Hoga- 11th July

---

Claire: Having promised photos, this website is proving tricky at uploading them, so as I type I'm uploading the first 15 or so to facebook, so parents get someone to show you on facebook!

We are 'frantically' revising for our first exam tonight, it's in 2 hours. We have to name all phylum, class and most genera of all invertebrates, and several common species found on Hoga, (I think it's roughly 120 names). Luckily last year we had a course on Inverts so some we can recall, but it is still challenging!

I went on a dive this morning and began to spot corals and inverts that I can now name, which is impressive! With 2 dives and 2 lectures a day, the days are pretty busy. No time to sunbathe which is very upsetting!! We want to tan, but we have to stay well covered on our beaches as to respect the locals. We only get our de-gas day every thursday to sunbathe on a different private beach called bounty bay.

Elly: Today we saw: Lion Fish (highly toxic), Sea Craits (highly toxic), Diadema (sea urchins, very sharp), Stone Fish (highly toxic), and some nudibranchs (genera opistobranchia class gastropoda for those interested (Martin Speight)). Our shack is very hot and sticky at night, and teeming with critters. Two geckos kept us company last night. Claire has told me to talk about the food. Lots of bread and rice, fish, a bit of salad and fruit. No dairy whatsoever. Apparently we now need to revise.

---