Anja Mondragon

  This past week I spent some time under the sea.  Just 10 minutes away from Tobacco Caye is an amazing diving spot called Cuda Point.  Once I was over my initial nervousness of diving again after over two years, I had a great time.   We saw Tarpon, pictured here, from just five feet […]

What an amazing day we had on Monday.  We spent a week worrying about the cleanup, concerned that no one would show.   However, when we arrived at the marine station in the morning, we were greeted by a group of very excited children ready to clean up the beaches and eat a hearty barbeque. […]

Baby hawksbill turtles emerged from the sand this past Thursday to make their way home.  Having seen plenty of documentaries on see life, I had always thought that sea turtles instinctively crept out of their sandy nests and spared no time in charging into the ocean.  These turtles were different, they came spinning out of […]

We have surveyed about 15 or so residents on their perceptions of the marine reserve and have begun a needs assessment for what the community would like to see happen.       We have had several responses on projects that would benefit the island and the community including:   Beach Clean-ups Solar power projects […]

Under a full starry night we slipped into the ocean unnoticed to the nocturnal marine animals.  Then suddenly we turned on our flashlights and all of their activities were revealed.  Octopus, moray eels, bioluminescent animals and an array of fish showed their colors clear only with our sharp flashlights.   Although we’re able to see […]

Here we are working on the island, enjoying the sun and Caribbean ocean.  It can be hard at times getting to work while surrounded by tanning tourists!  We have just finished collecting GPS points of the island including: sandal stake conch pile 1 conch pile 2 hangout two palms coconut pile canoe launch Lana’s pier   We […]

I’m now here on Tobacco Caye and loving island life.  I am lucky enough to be working here with Margaret Sands and Anna Lui.  We are slowly getting accustomed to living on such a small island with only 32 residents.  As we will be working directly with the community we are getting know the amazing people that […]

Quetzaltenango, or Xela, means home of the quetzales.  A small valley in southern Guatemala hosts this little town and the PLQ school.  They not offer language courses but also provide a full history of Guatemala including the horrific armed conflict.  It is hard to imagine that only 30 years ago Guatemala was in a dire state. […]

Over 52 structures stand in Tikal, Guatemala.  However, they are hidden in the massive ever growing forests.  They say that it took over 20 years to build a single structure in Tikal and that it takes about the same time to clear the forest from the Maya pyramids.  Even after 100 years they become covered […]