aimless erin: April 2006

Tanapag Dive

Here are some pictures from the first dive we did out at Tanapag beach, Saipan. We're working on the same reef, monitoring the Humbug dascyllus. The dive was amazing. We saw tons of different fish, none of my pictures do it justice. Schooling striped eel catfish, lionfish, cusion stars, scorpionfish, to name a few.

Spotted Toby

blue green chromis

Lined Spinecheek

blue damsel

Redfin butterflyfish

Humbugs

Worm

SAIPAN

After leaving from San Jose Airport, CA at noon Thursday April 13th, crossing the international date line, connecting in Narita, Japan, and changing planes in Nagoya, I arrived safe and sound WITH all my luggage in Saipan at 1am Saturday morning. I've settled in already, am staying in an appartment with the woman I am working for, Lucy that has a veiw of the reef and lagoon. We went out snorkeling at one of her sites Sunday morning, then headed over to Bird Island for more snorkeling with 2 other American "Howlies." The fish were amazing, I've never seen so many species at once! Here are some pics from my first two days here:

sunrise from my apartment balcony

American Memorial Park

Humbug Dascyllus

Blackbar Damsel

yellow tang

Network Pipe Fish

Bird Island

sunset at the American Memorial Park

sunset at micro beach

St. Patricks Day in San Francisco

Upon returning to a cold and dreary California, Kelly picked me up at the SFO airport at midnight on a Thursday. A true friend. Less than 24 hours later we were back in the city in Sunset at a Irish pub name Durty Nelly's to celebrate our Irish heritage (cork county anyone?), where we met up with Kelly's 2 cousins and their friends.

kelly's cousin

kelly and nicole

Monterey with the cuz

After returning from Costa Rica, I drove south to Aptos and Santa Cruz to visit my family. I got to see my three younger cousins. Nicole, my fellow biology nerd in the family, and I went to Monterey Bay Aquarium to pay our marine friends a visit. First, we stopped in Moss Landing to hit up Phil's snack shack for some calm chowder. Then it was off the the Monterey Bay Aquarium to check out the fishes.

me

cousin

Monterey Bay aquarium, because we can embrace our nerdy selves. look, jellies!

Moss landing, outside of Phil's snack shack (check out the otter)

This is why I love the Caribbean

Here is the view our last morning on the Caribbean. My last weekend in Costa Rica. And I had great company: Mike (an old friend from high school days @ AHS) and his two French friends. All three of them are living in NY and came down for some gorgeous Costa Rica scenery and weather.