Then, we hopped on the bus and drove about 20 km south to the reef at Manzanillo. We rented snorkeling gear, walked about 200 m down the beach and got in.  The reef was about 250 m off shore.  It was rather disappointing.  Silt and pesticides are really stressing it.  Coral and fish diversity are the lowest I’ve ever seen in a reef.  Most of the students had never been in a reef so it was exciting for them.  We stayed in for a little over an hour. I checked the surf to make sure everyone was back safely.  We thought we were missing Lauren but it turned she had already gone back down the beach.  We had good seafood lunch at a seaside restaurant.
 
 

Everyone snorkled in the reef at Mazanillo, very close to the  Panamanian border. The water was warm but visibility was impeded by a lot of silt-sized particles.

The reef is stressed by siltation that appears to be related to the cutting of the rain forest to put in banana plantations.

On the way back to town we left several people off who wanted to rent Boogie Boards.  The rest of us went back to the hotel.  After showers the students walked into town for more shopping.

While we were sitting around drinking beer in the evening, Wendy returned with her hair braided.  It cost $12.  Jof said he would pay for Margaret if she wanted hers done.  She acquiesced so we all chipped in ¢200.  She, Wendy and Sarah C. went off to the braid salon – which was a chair on the side of the road.  The woman who did it was deaf.

At our 8:30 meeting, I may have won back the academic roots of this trip.  I talked about reef ecology and the stress these reefs are under.  This evolved into a discussion of pragmatic environmentalism and the need for expertise in international environmental law.  Jof told me it was the best environmental speech he had ever heard.  Todd would disagree being an earth-child but the earth children are losing ground.  Not in attendance were the sloths, Jen (sick), and the three braiders.

After the meeting, we walked to El Parquecito for dinner, stopping to watch Sarah’s hair being braided.  I had the fish filet with rice and beans (w/ coconut).  Most people returned to the hotel after dinner but a few went out dancing.