Carnivals of the Sea

From time to time, bandleaders have been inspired by and chosen to represent themes of the sea. Irving “Mac” McWilliams who was a fisherman at Las Cuevas created Wonders of Buccoo Reef to win the Band of the Year title in 1971. Peter Minshall’s Carnival of the Sea was the Band of the Year in 1979. Individual portrayals have dramatised sea creatures as giant, fearsome, awe-inspiring. Anjani Ganase, marine biologist, comments on some spectacular sea mas from the past.

 

 

Peter Minshall presented a Carnival of the Sea in 1979 and won the Band of the Year prize. His performance section was called Sea Serpent. Individually, the costumes encouraged sinuous movements. Together, the section created and moved in conga lines.

 

Although sea snakes are not found on coral reefs in the Caribbean, their presence in the Indian and Pacific Oceans is regarded with fondness. They are visual wonders underwater. While sea snakes are highly venomous, they are not aggressive. There have been incidents where snakes would swim right up to divers during mating season. Sea snakes are not to be mistaken for eels, which are more closely related to fish. Sea snakes breathe air but generally live their whole lives at sea, and even reproduce at sea. A subset of sea snakes is the group of sea kraits, such as the black and white banded sea krait; these are semi-aquatic and live close to shore. They can come ashore to reproduce but are also specialised in hunting eels as they are capable of manoeuvring through small crevices on the reef.

 

Manta rays on Heron Island reef. Photo by Aaron Chai

Devil Ray, King of Carnival 1979, designed by Peter Minshall, played by Peter Samuel. Photo courtesy Key Caribbean’s Trinidad Carnival

Other sections in Minshall’s band were colourful coral reef fish species – including the angel fish, blue tangs (surgeon fish), clown fish and even black and white striped butterfly fish.  Such colourful fish may stand out against the blue ocean or blue carnival skies but they fit right in with the melee of the reef. The vivid colour patterns are intended to break up the body patterns and blend into the reefscape from a distance. Reef fish busy themselves with specific roles, feeding, courting and cleaning which all contributes to healthy reef living.

 

Seahorses are from the same family of fish that include the pipefish and the seadragons. They are muses for fiction – Poseidon riding on a chariot pulsed by a hippocampus (half horse/ half sea monster). There are three species of seahorses found in the Caribbean, the dwarf, lined and longsnout seahorses. The longsnout seahorse is common on reefs in the Caribbean region and has a yellow, orange and even black in colour.  The dwarf seahorse is found on seagrass meadows in the Caribbean and is among the smallest species in the world. 

 

Reef fish from Minshall’s Carnival of the Sea 1979. Photo courtesy Key Caribbean’s Trinidad Carnival

 

Clownfish in an anemone in Indonesia. Photo by Anjani Ganase

Sea Serpent, designed by Peter Minshall for Carnival of the Sea 1979. Photo courtesy Key Caribbean’s Trinidad Carnival

 

Minshall's Devil Ray, played by Peter Samuel was 1979 King of Carnival. Devil Rays were so named because of the “horns” that protrude from their mouth. We have heard stories of these massive creatures swimming under boats and turning the water all around the boat black, striking fear into the hearts of fishermen terrified that their boats would be flipped over. However, these oceanic manta rays (Mobula mobula) have nothing devilish or deadly about them. These majestic creatures are often very playful and curious. On our dives, they might circle and investigate us before continuing on their way.  Mantas are giant filter feeders scooping up small fish, krill and plankton as they swim through the water column with their mouths open. They might be seen playfully engaging in backflips in the open ocean. They are also quite social, often found flying in groups, roaming large distances across the tropical and sub-tropical oceans of the world.

 

In 1985, the Gulf of Paria, created by Raoul Garib and Chris Santos was the Band of the Year. The king, Moonlight Phosphoresence, was played by Ray Fermin. Perhaps he should have been called Bioluminescence which emits light created from a biological source, and which has been seen naturally around our coasts. Bioluminescence is created by an enzyme reaction in algae, bacteria, worms, fishes and invertebrates, using luciferase (from the Latin name lucifer or “light bearer”.) It’s a common tool for communication, such as feeding, mating, even defence. Bioluminescence is common in Trinidad and Tobago’s marine ecosystems, where waves and nocturnal movements of marine life disturb algae in the water column creating sparks of light. The light is best observed on a dark night where the ocean shines brighter than the sky. 

 

Moonlight Phosphorescence, king of The Gulf of Paria 1985, played by Ray Fermin, designed by Chris Santos. Photo courtesy Key Caribbean’s Trinidad Carnival.

 

Bioluminescence has been seen in the Ortoire River which empties in the Gulf of Paria. Tours to see the bioluminescence in the Bon Accord lagoon may be booked at Radical Sports from Pigeon Point in Tobago.

 

Mas costumes are sensational, exaggerated and spectacular but if they serve to bring attention to diverse and extraordinary nature, creation and creativity, then ordinary life becomes richer and more pleasurable. If you want to see more fantastic ocean life that exists around our shores, go to this website: https://maritimeoceancollection.com/