Shark scientist or pirate? Six decades ago renowned shark researcher ‘Doc’ Gruber was a bit of both when he sailed around The Bahamas with Cuban fishermen in the Petra Maria. They were collecting shark skins: the scientific samples. It was an experience etched deep in his memory.

A rapid biodiversity assessment of fish communities in the waters surrounding the Save Our Seas Foundation–D’Arros Research Centre provided more than just a list of fish species. It revealed an essence of place. Writing from D’Arros Island, Clare Keating Daly reports on the findings and the place.