In Fall 2010, I had the opportunity to join a research cruise to some of the most remote, beautiful, and megafauna-rich islands in the world: the Northern Line Islands. We went scuba diving daily, hanging with giant snappers, sharks, and mantas. We were surrounded by coral gardens with such complexity that it’s hard to describe or imagine (scientists call it 150% coral cover; it makes sense to us). The dive team was a combination of researchers and research supporters who were all wonderful, fun, and adventurous. From the beds of iridescent-blue giant clams, acres of coral thickets and spires, and tornadoes of metallic schooling predatory jacks emerged a clear vision of what ‘pristine’ really means. I was inspired to make a video to document the trip…enjoy:
Levi Steele Lewis, Ph.D. 