hard bottom: this represents the submerged parts of the islands and deeper outcrops. This is where our observations will take place, in order to share the beauty of the marine biodi- versity with the general public. In October 2022, we spent two weeks explo- ring the islands' seabed. The dives are done with a rebreather, so as not to disturb the silent world. We benefited from the technical support of the CNRS's new boat, the Ayawande, and from the financial support of the Rotary Club of Rémire: this enabled us to collect more than 70 samples of animals atta- ched to the rocks (sponges, gorgonians, corals, molluscs, crustaceans). As a researcher at the CNRS, I am interested in natural sub- stances : the molecules produced by orga- nisms to communicate, defend themselves and reproduce. Many chemists think that the most interesting ones are those produced by sponges. New species are often discovered in the forest, but the marine environment may have some surprises in store for us. A photo exhibition and a film can be seen at the Musée des Iles du Salut, thanks to the Agamis asso- ciation and the CNES, and a travelling exhibi- tion project should be launched in order to share this heritage with schools, with the par- ticipation of the French Office for Biodiversity! www.naturdive.com
They were told there was nothing to see! That it was potentially dangerous... and that they would have to rely on the famous sharks of the Devil’s Island. It was a warning in due form. In November 2021, Gregory Genta-Jouve and Samuel Jéglot decided to explore the outs- kirts of the islands, starting with a dive south of Saint Joseph: and there, they could not believe their eyes! They were amazed: sponges and coloured corals were waiting for them. Gregory Genta-Jouve: The sharks we were pro- mised are not there, but a huge Goliath grou- per of more than two metres emerges from the darkness! What an encounter! It is decided, Samuel Jéglot, president of the association NaturDive, and myself, decide to set up a new expedition to the Devil’s Island, to discover, photograph and list their magnificent biodi- versity. We dedicate the name of our project, Itajara, to the Goliath grouper, whose scientific name is Epinephelus itajara . The observation conditions will not be easy, with visibility bet- ween thirty centimetres and one metre, which is rather poor; but sufficient to see what is on the substrate. The seabed in French Guiana is covered with soft mud up to 30 km off the coast, under the influence of the Amazon River, the most powerful river in the world. Less than 8% of the seabed can be observed as
~C L A S S & R E L A X L I F E S T Y L E M A G A Z I N E - 2023 ~
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