🎉It's time for another edition of Creature Feature Friday! 🎉 🐟 The French angelfish (Pomacanthus paru) is a striking marine fish found primarily in the western Atlantic, ranging from Florida and the Bahamas to Brazil, including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. 🌎 😇 Its distinctive appearance makes it a favourite among divers and aquarium enthusiasts.🤿 🟡🔵These angelfish have a vibrant colouration, their dark blue bodies are adorned with body scales edged in bright yellow. They also have yellow on their pectoral fins, white around their mouths, and yellow around their eyes. 💛 Their dorsal and anal fins are elongated, giving them an elegant appearance as they gracefully navigate through coral reefs. 🪸 French angelfish are omnivorous, feeding on a diet consisting of 🌿algae, 🧽sponges, 🦐small invertebrates, and occasionally 🐠small fish. ♻️ They play a significant role in controlling algae growth on coral reefs, making them important members of the ecosystem.🐟 These fish are known to form monogamous pairs, meaning they mate for life, and they are often seen swimming together as a pair. 💞 French angelfish are typically found in shallow reef environments, particularly around coral heads and rocky areas with plenty of hiding spots.🔎 🏥 They serve as important indicators of reef health, as their presence often signifies a thriving coral ecosystem.🪸 #CCMI #CreatureFeature #LittleCayman #Angelfish #OceanLife #WeLoveFish #MarineScience #Diving❤️🐠 📸: @Brookeenright

🏝️ CCMI is pleased to announce the addition of Dr Matthew Philips to the US and Cayman Board of Directors! 🏝️ 🇺🇸 Born and raised in New Bedford, Massachusetts, the ocean has always been an important part of Matthew's life. 🐋 New Bedford was once the world's largest whaling port, and it is now America's largest commercial fishing port, so naturally, Matthew grew up working in the commercial fishing industry before going to college. 🏥 After graduating from Yale Medical School and completing his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Pennsylvania, Matthew returned to New Bedford to serve his community as a neurosurgeon. 🧠 He is currently the founding director of the Southcoast Brain and Spine Center, the only truly integrated clinical neuroscience center in New England, that provides comprehensive and multispecialty care to those with brain and spine disease. 🎣 In 24 years back in New Bedford, Matthew has also resumed commercial, recreational, and big game tournament fishing. Closely intertwined with his passion for fishing is his interest and active participation in sustainability and pelagic ecosystem preservation. ⭐️ Welcome to the dedicated, passionate CCMI Board of Directors, Matthew, as you join our effort for coral reefs at this important and exciting time in the organisation's history! ⭐️ 🪸🪸🪸🪸🪸

⭐️ For the May Alumni Spotlight, we're featuring Sydney Bell. ⭐️ 🤿 Sydney is PhD candidate and research assistant in the Natural and Physical Sciences college at James Cook University in Queensland, Australia. 🇦🇺 🏝️ In 2019, she was a member of the CCMI and Rutgers University Internship Programme. Fun fact: she participated in this experience alongside current Education Assistant, Ryan, McLaughlin! 🧫 Sydney says that CCMI introduced her to the world of scientific diving, coral research, and underwater photography, which are now important components of her everyday life as a PhD candidate. She claims to have never been exposed to these fantastic fields without the internship at CCMI. 🪸 During her internship experience in Little Cayman. Sydney also learned additional skills that prepared her to complete her Bachelor's and Master's degrees including coral nursery maintenance, reef organism ID, and scientific writing/presenting. Sydney even teamed up another CCMI research intern alumna, Haley Davis, to start the ‘To Dive For’ podcast! Through their podcast, they make marine science and professional diving more accessible by amplifying the diverse voices of those who live it firsthand. 🐚 To learn more about Sydney's internship, visit the Alumni page on CCMI's website: https://reefresearch.org/who-we-are/our-people/supporters/. 🌊 🪸🤿🪸🤿🪸 @jamescookuniversity @todiveforpodcast @syd.goes.wild @slbartco @slb.11 @radiocayman @z99grandcayman @caymancountryrooster101 cayman_compass @goldcayman.ky @star92.7cayman @965cayrock @hot104.1fmcayman @caymannewsservice @loopcayman @caymanian.times #CCMI #Alumni #StudyAbroad #ReefResearch #UniversityExperience #AlumniSpotlight #MarineScience #ProfessionalDevelopment #FieldEducation #ProfessionalTraining

⏳ The countdown is on for episode 3 of Reefs Go Live! We're just one week away from learning more about 'Reproduction on the Reef'! 🎥 🗓️ On Wednesday, 8th May, we’ll go live at 10 am Cayman time (UTC -5h) with a whole session of NEW information to share with you! 🇰🇾 🏝️ Join the CCMI team to explore how our understanding of coral reproduction informs our scientists' restoration efforts, helping to improve the survival of our reefs under increasing global environmental threats. 🐚🪸🐳 🚤 Register for FREE through the Reefs Go Live link in our bio. Reefs Go Live is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Foundation. 🪸📽️🪸📽️🪸 #ReefsGoLive #VirtualFieldTrip #CoralReefs #MarineScience #STEM #CaymanIslands

🏝️ CCMI recently welcomed Anna Rasmussen to Little Cayman, where she will add her expertise to our growing education programme at the Little Cayman Research Centre! 🏝️ 🇩🇰 Anna is a passionate educator and dive instructor from Denmark, so she is going to be a great teacher and leader for the participants who come through CCMI's doors to learn about coral reefs. 🦘 Her journey started in 2019 when she made the best decision of her life by travelling to Cairns, Australia to become a dive instructor. She has since certified about 150 new divers, and she gained additional experience while working in the Mediterranean Sea around Sardinia, Italy. 🤿 🥼 Before arriving to Little Cayman in April 2024, Anna finished a bachelor’s degree in Biology from University of Copenhagen, and as part of her studies, she developed an education programme that facilitates sustainable behaviour changes using psychology-based theories. The programme enabled young children to learn about the challenges of their local fish populations through role play and building fish nurseries out of household items. 🐅 During her study time she also worked as an Educator at Copenhagen Zoo as well as the Øresund Aquarium in Helsingør, Denmark. There she taught children about the wonders of the natural world. 🪸 Anna is now excited to be a part of the CCMI team, and she hopes to inspire many new ambassadors of the ocean! 🪸 🤿🤿🤿🤿 Welcome to the team, Anna!

🏝️ The CCMI team was excited to again exhibit at this year's Little Cayman Agriculture Show on 27th April! 🇰🇾 🧤 Our booth offered an interactive experience where visitors could come and 'touch the untouchable!' 🪸 🗃️ Visitors stopped by to learn about coral reefs and even use their sense of touch to feel the different types of coral skeletons, which were hidden under a box so as to provide the experience of touching the coral blindfolded. 🫣 It was a unique opportunity not to be missed! 🐚

@visitcaymanislands understands that coral reefs are vital for a healthy planet. They are again sponsoring CCMI’s Healthy Reefs campaign, supporting important education and conservation efforts that help understand and protect oceans for the future. 🪸 Through CCMI's Healthy Reefs programme, our team can continue our 25 year effort to monitor Little Cayman’s reefs through annual surveys, produce the Reef Report Card, and communicate research from the Little Cayman Research Centre via our Reef Lecture Series at various events throughout the year. Many thanks to the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism - and all our Healthy Reefs sponsors - for continuing to invest in these important efforts in the Cayman Islands! 🇰🇾 🏝️ #HealthyReefs #WeLoveHealthyReefs #CoralReefs

☀️ Have you heard about the ULTIMATE summer adventure for nature loving teens? 🏝️ Each year, CCMI opens its doors to budding young scientists and conservationists to take part in our exclusive Caribbean Marine Ecology Camp - or CMEC, for short! Applications for this week-long residential camp are now open, and guests will experience diving and snorkelling, beach games, kayaking, and much more! Some key 🔑 info: ✅ Open to 13-17 year olds 📅 21-27 July or 28 July - 3 August 💻 All the info you need including full camp details and how to register can be found in the link in our bio. We can’t wait to see you there! 🤿 🏝️ #ConservationEducation #CaymanIslands #cayman #ScubaDive #SummerCamp #MarineBiology

🍾 🍾 Please join the CCMI Board and Team as we say a huge THANK YOU to Sydney Coleman for his service as one of our Board members for the last few years. 🎉 🏝️ Sydney joinined the Board of Directors in 2020, helping CCMI navigate the Covid-19 pandemic and emerge in a stronger position when Cayman's borders re-opened. 🪸 He has been an incredible support to the organisation in many capacities, helping guide us during a time of rapid expansion of our team to ensure we maintain strong footing as we plan to build our new facility. 🌊 Sydney's experience, passion for Little Cayman, and his enthusiam for CCMI have all been incredible assets to CCMI as we continue to grow and expand our work and impact for coral reefs. 🙏 We are incredibly grateful for his involvement, and we wish him all the best in his retirement! ⭐️ Thank you for everything, Sydney! ⭐️ We'd also like to send a special thank you to Claire as well as Sydney's children: Natalie, Fleur, Dani, and Hollie, all of who graciously joined Sydney in supporting CCMI during his tenure with us. We truly were fortunate to have all of you as part of the team! 🩵

🎥 🤿 We hope you enjoyed the second Reefs Go Live episode this year! 🌊🐠 It's been two weeks since we last went live from the stunning reefs of Little Cayman! If you missed out – don’t worry. You can watch the full broadcast on CCMI’s YouTube channel (@reefresearch). Use the link in bio to watch CCMI educators explain why research is so important for safeguarding important coastal habitats and the amazing marine life they support. 🐚🔬 And remember - the next episode of Reefs Go Live is on Wednesday, 8th May at 10am Cayman time (UTC-5h). 🏝️ Register at the link in our bio for FREE to join us for the next episodes. Reefs Go Live is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Foundation. 🪸📽️🪸📽️🪸

We are halfway through the 2024 Reefs Go Live series! With two episodes remaining, preparations are underway to make these final adventures spectacular! 🎉🎬 The CCMI team kicked things off with a look at the physical properties of the ocean, including how light, colour, sound, and density influence different types of marine life found throughout the various depths of the ocean. 🌅🔊🌊🥼 The latest episode was about the crucial role research plays in safeguarding marine ecosystems 🫶🏼🔬. It’s incredible to witness the dedicated efforts to protect the underwater wonders. 🌎 📚🐬🐚 In the next episode on 8th May, the CCMI team will dive into the topic of coral reproduction. Prepare for an epic journey into coral reefs on Little Cayman as we explore the coral life cycle together. ✨🔍 The final episode of Reefs Go Live 2024 will shed light on the sombre reality of coral bleaching. 😢🌡️ With a spotlight on CCMI's urgent research efforts following the devastating 2023 bleaching event, the educators will share how CCMI is fighting to save coral reefs from the ever increasing threats of climate change. 🛠️ Tune in for the remaining episodes to continue learning more about these important ecosystems. Reefs Go Live is made possible thanks to the support of the Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Foundation. 🪸📽️🪸📽️🪸

🏫 Cayman Prep has participated in local beach clean ups while learning sustainable conservation methods during their stay at CCMI this week. ♻️ During their visit, student participated in classroom lectures about marine pollution and plastics. One interesting fact they learned as part of their field trip to CCMI is that on average, each person consumes 5g of microplastics a week! That's the weight of a credit card. 💳 🏝️ Thank you, Cayman Prep, for getting your hands dirty and making our island a better place through your efforts to keep our beaches and oceans clean! ❤️ @caymanprepandhighschool