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The second phase of 2009 at Punta Gruesasaw many accomplishments. A big thank you is due to all Expedition Members (EMs)and staff who have worked hard to makethe project a huge success. Despite havinga decrease in numbers because of theHuman Influenza type A, everyone stayedhealthy, pulled together and continued tocollect the data to reach our project goals.Punta Gruesa also entered in a newenvironmental era by having solar andwind power, lessening carbon emissionsand noise levels withoutthe fuel generator and enabling us tohave electricity 24/7.This is a great benefitto both the base and to thesurrounding environment. PG will soon beable to run on natural energy alone.This phasestarted with theusual stint of badweather, butgave theoppotunity to explore cenotes in the localarea. With information from reliable sources(our neighbors, the fishermen) we landedon a cenote in the nearby town of Bacalar.A few intrepid EMs and staff went exploring!Cenote La Normal is attached to LakeBacalar (a freshwater lake) and isapproximately 100m in diameter. Weexplored this new sinkhole, having to walk down a dirt trail and kit up on a barrenslope to go into the water. This trip waspreceded by a visit to the Mayan ruins ofChacchoben. These ruins are set into the jungle and are a beautiful representation ofsome of the temples from the neoclassicperiod. The jungle was alive with wildlifeand many birds, including parrots and onetoucan that was spotted on the treetops.
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This phase has been successful in recordingsightings of many species for the first time inPunta Gruesa! Divers were lucky to see aCaribbean reef shark as it lay sleepingunder an overhang, which caused manyexcited squeals underwater. There havealso been sightings of nurse sharks at 2 ofour dive sites. Last phase a new spur andgroove site was discovered, which waschristened Los Gorditos (the Fatties) after the school of Chub that reside there.Among the new faces identified wereCherubfish, Black and Shy Hamlets,Peppermint Basslets and Longsnout Butterflyfish, to the delight of the fish geeks on base!This new deeper site has opened up thespecies diversity present along this part ofthe barrier reef.
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Dolphins were encountered again right infront of base. A dive was heading out anddidn’t quite make it to the dive site as thedolphins made their presence known.A number of EMs were able to snorkel witha mixed pod of Bottlenose and AtlanticSpotted dolphins. Attracted by the sound ofthe boat’s engine, the dolphins wereextremely curious, approaching closely andremaining with the snorkelers for over tenminutes. This year is the first time we haveseen the Atlantic Spotted dolphins, and liketheir bottlenose cousins they wereextremely playful, surfing the waves andleaping out of the water. Hopefully therewill be encounters like this in the upcomingweeks.Heeding the invitation of Country Director,Danny Ponce-Taylor, PG took the journeyup to Playa del Carmen to witness TheSacred Mayan crossing or “La TravesiaSagrada Maya”, an event which has takenplace 3 times, and on 2 of those ocassions,GVI staff has actively participated in therowing ritual. The historical origins of thisevent can be traced to the Mayans thatlived in Playa, and traded with theinhabitants of Cozumel. Rowers would takemerchandise and other items across thechannel on strong wooden canoes tovenerate Ixchel, the goddess of fertility andbeauty. It is reproduced as accuratelypossible in 3 days of festivities for the guestsand endurance for the rowers. Theweekend started with a traditional blessingof all of the rowers by the Mayan godIxchel. This was held at the Xcaret, whereeveryone had the opportunity to visit thepark and witness this traditional event. Therow from Playa to Cozumel is undertaken inthe canoes and involves several hoursunder the hot sun and in the high seas. Therowers were successful as they completedthe crossing to and from Cozumel over twodays.Expanding our network and enhancing our links with our partners, we welcome BaruchFigueroa from Amigos de Sian Ka’an (ASK).Baruch will be working closely with GVIMexico to aid staff with the training of EMsand share his marine science expertise.Baruch was initially a volunteer on the GVIexpedition in Mahahual under the NationalScholarship Programme and moved on tobecome a permanent staff member. Sincethen, he has been working with ASK in the
Barred Hamlet (left) andPeppermint Basslet (right),seen at the site LG.
 
marine research aspects of theorganization.Everyone can feel safer in the water knowing that many EMs completed their PADI Advanced Open Water, Rescue andDivemaster courses this phase. In addition,our first Emergency First Responder Instructor group was trained in PuntaGruesa. We wish them all the best in their future of first aid teaching and we are surethey will enjoy passing on the knowledgethey have gained to their students. Our best wishes also go out to our three divetrainees. For the first time this phase, threeEMs joined GVI Punta Gruesa as part of theDivemaster Traineeship program. Havingsuccessfully completed their ten weeks onbase and built up their knowledge ofmarine fish and corals, they are now off toundertake their divemaster course with XTCdivers in Xcalak where it is assured they willgain valuable experience in working withinthe dive industry.On 22
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April “Earth day” was once againcelebrated in Mahahual. This worldwideevent designed to promote the protectionand conservation of the Earth saw the lightone more time, and GVI Punta Gruesawent into the local town of Mahahual toinvolve the community in a variety ofactivities. The kids from the local primaryschool were enthralled by our puppet showperformance featuring the tale of Polipothe coral polyp who has an argument withhis algae which ends up leaving because itis hot and stressed. Poilpo is eventuallyreunited with his algae thanks to the help ofa number of marine animals he meets onhis long journey through the oceanincluding the very wise black durgon. Theshow was a huge success and the kidsenjoyed it immensely. Furthermore, theytook away an important conservationmessage regarding caring for coral reefecosystems. Following the puppet show thechildren were taken to the beach for aseries of environmentally themed games,including a recycling sack race and a‘rubbish’ sponge throwing game. For theolder crowd, the bubblemaker experiencewas repeated., but not without the helpand support of the dive shop Dreamtime,who lent ponnies and tanks, and the MatanKa’an hotel, which werekind enough to letus use their pool. And for the not soyoungsters, an discover local scuba divewas organized by our instructors anddivemasters, urging them to not only gewtinto diving, but get into conservation of thehabitat that is closest to them. A seed wassure planted in their minds.
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