The Lion Fishies

By Ross H.

A lionfish is a small, white fish with blue stripes running down its side. It’s incredibly dangerous. If any of its poisonous spines penetrate your skin, it will release a toxin that will induce nausea and pain at the point of contact.  During our expedition down to Florida this past week, my eight other classmates and I were set loose to explore a region riddled with colonies of sea sponges. Before our descent into the crystal blue waters of Big Pine Key, our supervisor Danielle told us to keep an eye out for them for they were invasive to the surrounding environment and needed to be captured and sent to labs for research. My diving partner was Matt Evans.

Matt and I dove down in the crystal-clear water until we reached the bottom; the whole trip took about five seconds. There, we discovered many sea sponges that did not live in a pineapple or flip patties for a crustacean. They came in shades of brown and some in red. However, only after the expedition did Danielle tell us that we shouldn’t touch the red ones because they were poisonous. One of our students did anyway though. After exploring the surrounding seabed for approximately half an hour, Matt and I came upon a suspicious rock with about three pairs of spiney points and little, black eyes peaking out of it. Using my highly trained explorer senses, I was able to determine that they were rock lobsters. 

Being men of the manliest caliber, we decided to try to catch at least one of the rock lobsters and then proceed to scare everyone with it while simultaneously radiating our awesomeness and attracting girls. Unfortunately, this would not be the case. Matt and I both dove down to investigate the rock lobster’s hideout when upon closer inspection of the rock we both came face to face with a lionfish. It was a terrifying four inches long, with three-inch spines sprouting off of its blue and white body. We were both so frightened that we retreated to the surface and gave each other congratulations and numerous fist pounds. Together we alerted Danielle of the presence of the lionfish and she bravely captured it, because apparently to do so you must have a license. 

After our short visit to the spongey reef, the ocean was just a little bit safer, thanks to Matt and me. We had aided in the capture of a dangerous and invasive beast and captured it in the safest manner that would do the least damage to the reef - AKA we had Danielle do it. We sure won that day.