Another person joining us on that tour at HIMB was a marine biologist/educator/illustrator named Kirsten Carlson, who had an artist residency in the “Maker Lab” there - but had never seen the confocal microscope. We immediately connected. I learned she had just returned from 7 weeks at McMurdo on a residency where she was diving under the ice to draw the creatures she found. We had lots in common. 

We made plans to have dinner with her and her husband on Saturday night. Then, on Sunday, they took us for a snorkel adventure in popular Hanauma Bay.

I am indebted to both Dave and Kirsten for their encouragement in introducing us to our FIRST snorkeling experience. They showed us how to put our fins on AFTER you’re in the water – how to back in and so much more! Dave took me around pointing out fish, coral and sea urchins.