Today was an exciting day as the students got to spend the majority of it studying at the Aquarium Encounters. We are so blessed to have had an outstanding relationship with the director of the aquarium for several years and we had the privilege to once again arrive before they opened for Michael to give the lecture on Chordata (fish) in front of their Coral Reef and shark tanks.

After the lecture, the students had the opportunity to snorkel in their Coral Reef tank and feed the numerous species of brightly colored fish and rays through a squirt bottle. They even were then given a piece of dead fish that they then stuck into a hole in the glass to feed the large sharks in the neighboring tank. So many students raved that this was an incredible experience!

While at the aquarium, they were also able to go on informative tours with the aquarium staff, and then they got back in their habitat groups and began classifying some of the specimens that were in the tanks. And before loading back up in the vans to return to the hotel, they had some free time to roam around the grounds and enjoy some of the exhibits on their own time. Petting the cownose rays was a big hit!

Upon arriving back to the hotel, students went back to their habitat groups and continued classifying the specimens in our own tanks. Some students conducted the scientific experiment of kissing a sea anemone to feel the sting of the nematocysts. Our skin is too thick for the venomous barbs to penetrate. However, the skin on our lips is much more sensitive. Most of the students say it feels similar to licking a nine-volt battery. Lots of laughter was heard as the students passed the creature around, each taking their turn at giving it a big smooch!

The Bible session for the evening was on the contradiction that the Bible sometimes state that Jonah was swallowed by a fish and in other areas it says he was swallowed by a whale. So, which was it? Michael instructed the kids that oftentimes, things get lost in translation, and that Jonah was actually likely swallowed by a fish, plus there are biological facts to support this. Students said that they feel much more confident in defending the Bible now that they know that they need to often go to the original Greek/Hebrew that the Bible was written in.

We ended the evening with a round of volleyball. I have to say, this has been the best group of volleyball players we have ever had! These games have been intense!

Tomorrow, the students will be going to the Turtle Hospital!