Back in Bimini...

That didn't take very long.

Mmmmm

To be honest, I'm really not sure how to start this first entry.  I've been back in Bimini now for over two weeks and, although the internet is partly to blame, i've been putting off writing this first entry.  It might be the excessive heat, the copious amount of boat paint and fiberglass I've inhaled, or the brain damage incurred from painting a roof with metallic silver roofing paint in the blinding sun, but i've just been at a loss for words.  To be fair, I'm never really at a loss for words, it's just that I'm not sure it's really hit me that I now live in the Bahamas year round working at a shark research lab.

I guess the reason i'm having trouble writing is that before, while I was here as a volunteer, the whole experience was temporary and thus I wanted to share as many of the individual experiences I could.  While i'm still planning on writing about the cool and crazy things we do here, i'm also hoping to write about marine and other environmental issues that I think people should know about.

If you're wondering why I am suddenly back at the lab, after returning home I was called and offered the recently vacated assistant lab manager position.  It took all of five seconds to decide that I would rather spend my time back in Bimini working with sharks than living in Philly serving overpriced salad and pizza to yuppies.

So, here I am back in the same cramped two bunk-bed room, sweating all day in the blazing heat, showering in brackish water, and thanking our wonderful plumbing for the all too often phantom floaters my lab mates leave behind.  Thus far its been both a tiring, and yet smooth, transition back to life at the lab.  We've already done a South Bimini mini PIT where we gillnetted for twelve strait hours three nights in a row.  Not that it's been too long since i last drove the skiffs, but there's nothing like shuttling sharks to the pens in the middle of the night with only a few flashing strobes to guide the way to get your adrenaline going.  Now, as a staff member, reef shark dives get a little  more interesting, as I'm responsible for hanging out behind the line of volunteers and scaring away the sharks that circle around by swimming after them and grabbing their tail.... 

We've had a few days off, gone spearing and freediving, and were treated to a fireworks show only the Bahamas could provide.  I wasn't going to be the one to do it, but someone should've told the guys lighting them that fireworks are not supposed to blow up at ground level or be launched directly toward onlookers.  Regardless, it was a great show, even if I did feel like I was in Nam getting shelled for the majority of it.

Tomorrow is another day off, and i'm hoping to get out on the water to do some more freediving.  Several of us went to the pool the other night to practice breath holds, and i set a new personal best at 3:17 seconds.

Alright, that's all the summary i've got in me today.  I'm planning on blogging fairly often again like i was doing before, so check back soon.