The Greed of Seaweed

Seaweed.

A term used for an outsider who settles in Bimini. 

Seaweed comes, seaweed goes. Some stay to nourish the land (seaweed is a natural fertilizer), and others wash-up for moments before getting swept out to new destinations. 

Honestly, I can't blame the overt or subtle repulsion towards outsiders on the island. Tourists arrive with extravagance and dispose of US-brought goods as trash before thrusting their tri-engine boats--overstuffed with Bahamian harvested seafood--back home. 

"But we spend money! 

"Bimini needs us, otherwise they wouldn't be asking us to buy things from them." 

"I need a weekend getaway from Miami, but I don't want to lose the perks." 

As a fellow species of seaweed, I would like to be of the nourishing type that can be put to use. That vegan sushi roll type of seaweed. Seaweed will surely return, but for now it is gone with the currents. 

Foolish to be Bullish

From a few weeks back. 

A bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) patrolling the beach at golden hour. Backdropped by horizon-lined freight ships. This was Kevin's first shark-sighting in Bimini, if I'm not mistaking. Not a bad way to start off. Backpacks and sandals were flung on the sand as we pursued the steady swimmer southbound along the wavy shoreline. It took all of my rational sense to not wade in with camera in hand, this reportedly aggressive specimen looked so at peace with itself. The choice was made to stay above water. I'm lacking a GoPro or underwater housing sorely. 

Note: I first decided this is no lemon shark (which have been spotted in this location) because the first dorsal in is disproportionately larger than the posterior one. A blacktip, possibly, though the girthy anterior suggested otherwise. I have never heard of blacktips nor reef sharks venturing off Radio Beach in North Bimini, but am open to others' insights.

-C