A Chronicle of the Invasion

Life on Lee Stocking has been all about falling into the routine. Every day begins with breakfast at 7, which can be challenging with a faulty alarm clock and a three hour time difference.   Meals are prepared by either Miss Darling or Sue; two Bahamian women from the nearby island Exuma. Following breakfast, boats are loaded with tanks, scuba gear, water, food, first aid kits, and any other supplies needed that day.  From here on, every day is different.  Some days I’ll count fish til dinner with grad student Mark Albins, while other days I might be catching lionfish with Professor Mark Hixon.  After a day of diving, the work is only half done. Data collected has to be carefully photocopied, checked for errors, corrected if needed, and then transferred to a computer.  In addition, a log is kept on the number of dives, tanks used, boats taken out, sites visited, and the work accomplished each day.  The routine keeps everyone working efficiently as a team.  Of course the routine could never predict all the surprising adventures, breathtaking views, and new experiences I would encounter on this island…