Research Trip, Andros, 1st-7th June, 2024
Expedition leaders: Dr. Tristan Guttridge and Sorantaa Bain
Crew: Ben, Christy, Cristin, Josie, Lillyana, Rosie and Sami
Introduction
Join us on an unforgettable week in Andros, where our dedicated team of researchers explored the world of shark tagging, conservation, and hands-on learning in some of the Bahamas' most vibrant waters. Every day, from thrilling shark encounters to vital community connections, brought new discoveries and moments to remember!
Day 1
We kicked off our Andros expedition with a fresh team of passionate researchers, buzzing with excitement for the week of research, conservation, and shark encounters ahead! Once we landed and got settled in, our team leader Tristan led us through our core briefings on safety, research protocols, and shark handling. With our briefings complete, it was time to hit the water and put those skills to the test!
Our first catch of the day was a nurse shark, which we tagged and released smoothly. Then we moved on to two blacknose sharks, smaller but equally as important, followed by more nurse sharks. Just when we thought the day couldn’t get any better, we landed a young tiger shark—an especially thrilling find because it was a recapture! We identified this shark through a PIT tag from 2022, making this a valuable opportunity to gather new data on its growth. We took updated measurements, then released it back into the blue, hopeful for more encounters in the future.
Day 2
We set out bright and early in near-perfect conditions to find more sharks. Our first catch was a lemon shark, followed by a nurse shark. After processing and releasing them, we hauled our lines and took a break for an afternoon lecture with Tristan.
Later, we ventured back out to retrieve, download, and redeploy some of our acoustic receivers. These “listening stations” record the movements of any acoustic-tagged shark that swims within range, providing us with essential data on their movement patterns and habitat use. After downloading the data, we returned to base for another lecture and wrapped up the day early to prepare for tomorrow's adventures.
Day 3
Our morning started with a snorkel in the mangroves, followed by a beach cleanup. We regularly clean the beaches in Andros as part of our local outreach efforts. Keeping these vital ecosystems clear of debris is a key part of our mission—mangroves are crucial habitats, especially as nurseries for young sharks.
In the afternoon, we joined a local school’s celebration, congratulating their kindergarten graduates—a heartwarming reminder of how conservation is intertwined with community. The children gathered around the lodge and read our book ‘Which Faces Belong In These Places’. They asked our team many questions and enjoyed looking into the creek at fish and nearby feeding birds.
We wrapped up an amazing day back on the water with an experience we won’t soon forget—shark tagging! After a quiet morning, our patience was rewarded when we had an unforgettable encounter with a magnificent great hammerhead, one of the largest and most awe-inspiring shark species found around Andros. The thrill of seeing this giant up close never fades!
With efficiency and care, we moved quickly: from the moment the shark took the bait to its release, the entire process took less than 13 minutes. This swift approach ensures the animal’s safety while allowing us to gather essential data. We fitted the hammerhead with a Smart Position and Temperature (SPOT) tag, an advanced device that transmits its location and the surrounding water temperature each time it surfaces. This tracking will allow us to follow its movements in unprecedented detail, opening a window into the mysterious world of these apex predators. It was an exhilarating finale to our day!
Day 4
We started the day going offshore to the Navy buoy hoping to spot silky sharks to tag, but so such luck! We are still trying to figure out this location, sometimes there’s over 50 sharks, other times theres zero! With no sharks present we took the opportunity to get in the water for a quick snorkel! Still, the crystal-clear waters didn’t disappoint, with mahi-mahi and other marine life making for a beautiful morning.
After our dive it was back to marine research, this time receiver maintenance—free diving for shallow receivers and scuba diving for the deeper ones. Sarontaa led the free dives, while Tristan took charge down on scuba. To cap off the day, we enjoyed a refreshing reef snorkel before gathering for a lecture led by Tristan.
Day 5
Another stunning day on the water! First, we checked two of our listening stations, excited to see what animals had been detected. Checking the data felt like uncovering hidden stories of the ocean’s movements. With this insight fueling us, we shifted focus to tagging, ready for another round of hands-on encounters and data collection.
Our day on the water turned into an impressive lineup, focusing on 'the boys'! After setting the lines, we settled in, watching the water and waiting for any sign of a bite. Each hit brought its own thrill, and by the end of the day, we had quite the haul—six male reef sharks and six male nurse sharks. It was an incredible hands-on experience as we carefully worked with each shark, tagging and collecting essential data that will contribute to our understanding of their movement and behavior. The energy and adrenaline made for an incredibly busy and unforgettable day in the field!
With the day’s catches carefully tagged and released, we took one last snorkel in Andros’ crystal-clear waters and ended the evening with a bit of ocean-inspired art and crafts alongside a local young ocean enthusiast. What a memorable day!
Day 6
We kicked off the morning with deeper receiver deployments via scuba. Receiver retrievals, downloads and deployments can take a little time, however they are an essential part of our work. After a busy morning the team ventured to the shallows where we spotted lemon sharks gliding through knee-deep water. These short experiences are much loved and often provide people with their first in water shark encounter.
Next, it was time to get back to tagging. Today’s lineup included many nurse sharks and a Caribbean reef shark, which received an acoustic tag that we surgically implanted. This tag will provide us with 10 years of data on its movements, logging each time it passes by one of our receivers.
With storms overhead the rocky weather cut our day short, but we made the most of it with another insightful and educational lecture from Tristan.
Day 7
We gave it one last go, hoping to tag some silky sharks, but they remained out of sight. Instead, we wrapped up with a final moments with a blue hole snorkel, savoring the beauty of Andros one last time before packing up and heading back to the airport.
Reflecting on this incredible week, we’re filled with gratitude for the experiences we shared, the data we gathered, and the lasting memories we made. Here’s to the next adventure and the continued pursuit of ocean conservation!
Thank you
Thank you to our research trip leaders Dr. Tristan Guttridge and Sorantaa Bain for guiding the team through an incredibly successful week. A huge thank you to our research assistants for their passion, determination and endless enthusiasm to work hard, learn and produce results. We would also like to thank the Andros Island Bonefish Club for their hospitality, and the hardworking and ever professional Marvin for his top class boating and captaining skills.
Gratitude must also go to all on the trip for their generosity in allowing us to use their images in this blog.