An incredible array of interesting sea creatures was collected from the murky waters off the Mt. Gardner Dock on Saturday afternoon much to the amazement and awe of many little curious Bowen Islanders. Twenty-four volunteer divers, educators and biologists from the Marine Life Sanctuaries Society collected creatures for viewing on shore including: jellyfish, a variety of sea stars, nudibranchs, clams, crabs, a sea cucumber and a firm favourite among all the children were the three Giant Pacific Octopus. Added to this mix were also a few interesting fish like the long eel like Saddleback Gunnel and the Plainfish Midshipman. The divers gently placed all collected specimens in mobile sea water tanks that had been set up on shore.
It was a lovely scene to watch as young children formed rings around the tanks with parents hovering behind, while the beach educators described the various creatures scuttling around the water tanks. The fact that the tanks were eye level for even the youngest child, were organised by species and overseen by such enthusiastic volunteers made it hard to coax children onto neighbouring tanks. See through jellyfish that glow at night with phosphorescence, sea stars larger than the children heads, and alien like sea cucumbers all made for a captive audience.
Organizer Adam Taylor’s enthusiasm and incredible knowledge about the ocean really brought the day to life and even before a single creature had been brought up from the depths he was already imparting knowledge about the algal bloom responsible for the brown murky water and the vital importance of this event in the life cycle of Howe Sound. Over the course of two hours divers wearing their thick wetsuits kept renewed interest in the water tanks as they brought new specimens to add. One diver described the experience of diving in the algal bloom like diving on Mars, while another said it was sort of like night diving.
Hugo James (aged 5) was hard pressed to decide what was more interesting, the sea creatures or all the divers and their tanks that kept emerging in front of him. On such a busy weekend for many families the event was still a firm favourite with more than 100 people coming out; it was also a great location to watch the Around the Island Race as the yachts sailed by with Hutt Island in the background.
