In stark contrast to Sean Connery’s “one ping only” in Hunt for Red October, we’ve pinged about 150,000 times and have calculated that we will ping around 302,400 times in total. Now that I’ve mentioned it I can’t seem to tune it out once again. Should be a great night’s rest ????. We are nearing the halfway point of the cruise and it’s starting to get to the point in the cruise where people are getting bored. Luckily, I’ve managed to procrastinate all of my work for the second half of the cruise. My plan is to map each system from transducer/radar/gps to computer to display so that I can better visualize the big picture of the tech-managed equipment onboard. After I have that, I want to examine and draw in how the systems interface with one another so that our displays show large varieties of data from different sources. I think this will be useful to build intuition as a tech e.g. if we stop receiving air temperature data I’ll know exactly where to go to start troubleshooting.
Category: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Page 13 of 16
Just because our cruise doesn’t require any deployments of the rosette sampler, doesn’t mean we haven’t had the chance to learn about it. This instrument is the bread and butter of chemical and physical oceanographic sampling. The most basic of its type collect seawater samples and measure the water column temperature, salinity, oxygen, and pressure (depth) with more sophisticated models like WHOI’s having additional sensors measuring water column turbidity, chlorophyll, and light, and the rosette’s depth from the seafloor. During our free time this first week, Lila and Jacob, the other two MATE interns aboard the R/V Neil Armstrong, and I have dismantled all of the instruments from the rosette, serviced them, and reattached them along with all 24 Niskin bottles.
In past jobs and educational cruises, I’ve been responsible for filling samples from the Niskin bottles and monitoring the water column data as it is being collected, but I never felt confident in my understanding of the instrument operation. Now that I’ve held each sensor in my hand, connected their wiring and tubing, and scripted their operational files, I look forward to a cruise where I’ll be able to make use of my knowledge in action.
Although this cruise is bathymetry data focused, it has given us the opportunity to hone our data cleaning intuition. Much of this process includes repeatedly rejecting ridiculous data points from the multibeam that result from the imperfection of the instrument – often times due to simply the pitching and rolling of the ship – which can make the task seem mundane at times. When this happens I have to take a step back and remind myself where I am: on one of the most technologically advanced oceanographic research ships in the world, with scientists from all over the planet, mapping the ocean floor. This reminder humbles me back to reality, but losing touch of the uniqueness of these seagoing opportunities is not uncommon, especially when everyone surrounding you is operating business as usual.
Photo: Ella cleaning bathymetric data using the Caris software package.
Photographer: Maria Repczynska, Icelandic Student
It’s hard to believe it’s only been a week! It feels like both so much and so little has happened. Once offshore from Iceland and within our permitted range, the marine tech team and MATE interns (Ella, Jacob, and I) started off this week by turning on the EM710 multibeam sonar and 3.5 kHz Knudsen CHIRP sub-bottom profiler. We then launched the magnetometer, and got all associated software properly running and collecting data. Once our depth increased beyond ~1000 meters, we switched from the EM710 to the EM122 multibeam sonar system, which we have been using ever since. Our first day or so involved minor troubleshooting of these systems as we became familiar with how to properly operate and monitor them.
As a MATE intern on a geophysical remote sensing cruise, my on-watch tasks have primarily consisted of routine monitoring of the multibeam, sub-bottom, magnetometer, and gravimeter systems. Off-watch, the other Armstrong MATE interns and I have been making a point to learn as much as we can about the diverse technology and protocols that are central to most UNOLS research cruises, despite the fact that this one is limited in scope. The majority of our instruction has been under the lead marine technician aboard this cruise, known here as the lead member of the Shipboard Scientific Support Group. However, we also learn additional relevant skills from other crew members including the Mates. This week, our training has included:
- Learning about the pCO2sensor, turning it on, and properly adjusting flow rates through the system
- Fully disassembling and reassembling the CTD and Rosette (Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth probe with other optional additional sensors and the Niskin bottle carousel)
- Gaining an understanding of how power and data are transmitted between the CTD deck box and CTD sensors, and properly entering our CTD configuration into the associated software so as to enable this flow of power and data
- Creating hypothetical deck plans with the Chief Mate and entering them into DELFTload, a program which enables one to calculate the effects of different loads and their positioning on the ship. We also then utilized this program to balance these loads using the ship’s various ballasts.
- Processing and cleaning multibeam data using two common programs: Qimera and CARIS
- How to properly launch an XBT, upload the cast data into SSM (Sound Speed Manager) for processing, and incorporate the updated sound velocity data into SIS (the EM122 software).
Other than training, I’ve been eating amazing food (including daily cheese and charcuterie at cheese o’clock), making up for it at the gym, getting other work done, and hanging out with the crew, science party, and other MATE interns. Most of our free time has been spent chatting about life, playing endless card games, enjoying the deck when it’s not too cold and wet out, watching the FIFA Women’s World Cup, playing assassin, and talking about the gnarly weather ahead. Speaking of the weather, things are looking pretty rough for Wednesday! To prepare, we’ve been steaming toward a more optimal location, securing anything we don’t want flying, taking sea sickness meds, and being dramatic. Luckily, I haven’t had any need for sea sickness meds so far, so let’s hope it stays that way!
So far we’ve learned a great deal of information in a short time. It’s a bit like trying to take a drink from a fire hose. But, overall it is great exposure to the Marine Tech way of life. We got the fundamental training on breaking down the CTD, cleaning all connector pins, and reassembly. The CTD has been described to us as the “bread and butter” of research cruises which is true in my experience. We also built the CTD software from scratch. This exposure will be vital in any future position as a tech. Techs are a liaison between science and crew so we also got some time in on the bridge discussing communications and load plans of scientific equipment. In general, it has been a week of life at sea where there is a lot to do and not enough time to do it. I tend to ask myself “Am I learning?” And if the answer is yes then all is well at sea! I am learning out here.
With 20 crew members, 14 scientists, 2 SSSG techs (marine technicians), and 3 MATE interns aboard, we exit the Reykjavík port with rare, beautiful, Icelandic weather. The first 24 hours consist of exploring the layout of the boat, learning everyone’s names, safety trainings, an abandon ship drill, and indulging in fresh fruits and vegetables like avocados, berries, cantaloupe, starfruit, pineapple, sprouts, the list goes on and on. With 35 days straight at sea, they won’t last long.
The R/V Neil Armstrong is a more modern boat than I’ve ever sailed on. If it wasn’t for the pitching and rolling of the waves, the inside would feel no different from any given science building at my alma mater, the University of New Hampshire (UNH). In my time onboard UNH’s R/V Gulf Challenger and the Sea Education Association’s SSV Robert C. Seamans, I spent most of my time on deck, collecting samples and adjusting sails, with the horizon constantly in sight. On the R/V Neil Armstrong, however, with few portholes for viewing the horizon, the ship’s movement is disorienting and stomach upsetting (at least until my sea legs grow).
Most of our time is spent inside due to the nature of the sampling plan. Unlike chemical, biological or physical oceanography cruises which include deployments several times a day, this geophysical research cruise focuses on data collected from instruments attached to the bottom of the hull. So, on top of learning deck operations, and the many duties of a marine technician, I am also responsible for monitoring the bathymetric, gravitational, and magnetic data on screens in the science lab as they come in.
The magnetometer is one of the only instruments we will deploy. We tow it behind the ship during the entire cruise, with plenty of pay out to ensure the metal ship doesn’t influence its measurements. It measures the magnetic field of the earth. By looking at the anomalies from the earth’s overall magnetic field, we can distinguish slight changes due to the presence or absence of rocky lava flows (which preserve the earth’s magnetic field at their time of formation), even if they’re beneath sediment. This data, combined with the bathymetric data from the multibeam sonar (which is limited to mapping only the sediment or rocky surface layers) and the gravity data from the gravitometer, help us reconstruct the history of fractures formed from the spreading of the Eurasian and North American plates – the main goal of this cruise.
Photo: Ella and Lila observing while shipboard science support group members Cris and Becca prepare for deploying the magnetometer.
Photographer: Jacob Cooper, MATE Intern
MATE Test Blog
After a wonderful, but hectic few days of visiting family and packing, I am certainly looking forward to the next month at sea aboard the R/V Neil Armstrong. Although not always calm, weather-wise or work-wise, I enjoy the simplicity of shipboard life. Since graduating from Eckerd College in May of 2018 with a degree in Marine Science, I’ve been fortunate enough to partake in three cruises aboard the E/V Nautilus as a member of the Science Management team. As a member of this team, I was able to gain familiarity with diverse marine technological equipment, but was not responsible for operating or maintaining it.
During this cruise aboard the Armstrong, we will be focused on acquiring geophysical data along the Reykjanes Ridge, a tectonic feature extending about 1000 km southwest of Iceland. We will primarily be utilizing multibeam sonar, sub-bottom profiler, gravitometer, and magnetometer equipment. So while not new to working aboard research vessels, I’m excited for the opportunity my time aboard the Armstrong will provide me to further diversify and expand my experience with marine technology. I’m also looking forward to sailing in the Atlantic for the first time and experiencing the midnight sun!
Wish me safe seas and black-out curtains!
After a wonderful, but hectic few days of visiting family and packing at home in NYC, I am certainly looking forward to the next month at sea aboard the R/V Neil Armstrong. Although not always calm, weather-wise or work-wise, I enjoy the simplicity of shipboard life. Since graduating from Eckerd College in May of 2018 with a degree in Marine Science, I’ve been fortunate enough to partake in three cruises aboard the E/V Nautilus as a member of the Science Management team. As a member of this team, I was able to gain familiarity with diverse marine technological equipment, but was not responsible for operating or maintaining it.
During this cruise aboard the Armstrong, we will be focused on acquiring geophysical data along the Reykjanes Ridge, a tectonic feature extending approximately 1000 km southwest of Iceland. We will primarily be utilizing multibeam sonar, sub-bottom profiler, gravitometer, and magnetometer equipment. So while not new to working aboard research vessels, I’m excited for this opportunity to further diversify and expand my experience managing and operating marine technology aboard the Armstrong. I’m also looking forward to sailing in the Atlantic for the first time and experiencing the midnight sun.
Wish me safe seas and good black-out curtains!
I spent some time before on the R/V Roger Revelle and it was an amazing experience. I recall thinking that the Marine Techs have a “pretty sweet gig”. I am thrilled to dust off my prior SONAR equioment knowledge from having been a SONAR Technician in the Navy and apply it to this sweet gig. Also, highly excited for 5 weeks of delicious cuisine on one of the newest research vessels. I feel like I have all of the luck right now and I’m grateful.
Greetings! I have just completed the fourth and final week of my internship with the Alvin Group aboard the Atlantis. It’s been an incredible time packed with new experiences, new friends, and the discovery of a large coral reef off the coast of South Carolina!
(Note: All previous posts have been updated with pictures taken while at sea. Enjoy!)
Wednesday was our third to last dive, and pre-dive/launch went very smoothly. We woke up early and got everything done ahead of schedule, so I was able to enjoy a bit of the sunset as well. During Alvin’s dive, I worked to clean the mech shop once more and also worked on cleaning some of the corroded tools and chain binders in the hangar. I used wire brushes to scrub all of the loose rust off and sprayed the larger parts down with a rust-eating chemical. I placed the smaller parts in the de-rusting bucket that was filled with a rust-eating liquid as well. After some scrubbing and re-greasing of threads, the equipment worked smoothly again. The recovery and post-dive went well and when I checked the Main Ballast Blow Box, the leak seemed to have stopped. We were able to knock off early since we got the post-dive checks done very quickly and managed to update the basket with ease. After some hangar cleanup, I knocked off and enjoyed playing a game of Settlers of Catan with Max and Nick to end the day.
Thursday was a long day due to some miscommunication with the plans on what was needed on the basket. The pre-dive and launch went well, and afterwards I worked on cleaning the rust off of more chain binders. I also went to top lab (room next to the bridge where someone is always stationed to communicate with the sub) to learn about the electrical systems on Alvin and how Alvin is powered. Bruce explained that there are many different ways of diagnosing electrical problems by isolating certain parts of the system and running down the line of components that could have failed. From the schematic we could see that Alvin’s electrical systems were very symmetrical and were full of safeties and alternative ways to work different parts of the sub. I also learned about the mercury trim system which consists of a pair of balls in the front and back of Alvin containing mercury and oil. The oil is pumped back and forth to displace the mercury and move it to adjust the sub’s trim. The system also includes check valves and relief valves in order to make the moving the mercury in one direction easier. After the sub recovery and post-dive checks, Nick and I worked on making a deployable camera stand so that Alvin could take a picture of itself during the next day’s dive. It had a weight plate base and used speed-rail joints as the mounting platform for the camera which was hose-clamped to the stand. The idea was that the sub would take this out of the basket and place it down onto a surface and then back away for the camera shot.
Friday was our last dive of the cruise. It was a special day because I realized that the cruise was coming to an end, and tried to cherish the last moments I would have. It was interesting because I felt that I had been at sea for much longer than I had been and knew I was going to miss my time at sea with Alvin. Nevertheless, we started the day by going through our pre-dive checks and prepping Alvin for the day. Per tradition, I also decorated a foam cup that would be placed in a bag and strapped to Alvin. We did this so that when Alvin returned from the dive, we would get a shrunken cup souvenir from the water pressure. After cleaning the windows for a final time, we rolled Alvin out onto the aft deck and attached the necessary weights. The launch went well and afterwards we power-washed the hangar. When it was time to prepare for Alvin’s recovery at about 1700, we gathered all the necessary tools and equipment out onto the aft deck. The final recovery went smoothly, but instead of giving Alvin a freshwater hose down, we stripped all the skins off and scrubbed them down with soap and gave Alvin a power wash until she was clean. Afterwards, we rolled her back into the hangar and went to have dinner. Since it was the final dive, we were able to knock off early (around 1830) and celebrate/relax. That night some of us sat out on the bow and watched the lightning light up the night sky and the dark waves.
Saturday was a day of transit as we didn’t have any more dives and worked to clean the mech shop and hangar. Since it wasn’t a dive day, we started the day at 0800 and worked on storing/taking stock of materials that we would need for the next Alvin cruise. We also worked on figuring out why our spare Titan manipulator was acting sluggish. We set up the manipulator on a testing bench and I watched as Bruce and Danik tested to see if any of the issues were caused by the master arm. Afterwards, Danik changed out the main board in the arm that connects and controls all of the servo valves for the joints to see if it was an electrical problem. We did not find that it was an issue of the master arm or the electrical board, which helped us progress further into diagnosing the issue with the arm. After some discussion, everyone decided it would be best to wait until we got back to Woods Hole to figure out the issue. Todd also showed me some footage he had from his days of working on Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles with the Navy. It was very interesting to see the way they conducted their operations and hearing about all the exercises and work they did around the world. Overall, it was a very relaxed day that consisted of housekeeping and some manipulator diagnostics.
On Sunday, we arrived in Woods Hole at around 0930. It was the first time I had seen a land formation in about two weeks, and the sun was shining down on us. As we pulled into port, everyone watched from the side of the ship as we approached all the smaller ship traffic in the area and I watched as all the smaller boats sped around us. When we finally approached WHOI, the crew worked on tossing mooring lines to workers on the dock and set up the steps and gangway for people to begin loading and unloading equipment. Science had spent the previous day and night packing and preparing to offload their gear. When we were completely docked, we carried aboard new supplies for the next cruise and spent much of the day storing them in the forward van and in the mech shop. The starboard crane was also being used a lot to carry many crates off the aft deck. At the same time, the crew were prepping parts of the Atlantis for the upcoming ROV Jason cruise. After bringing aboard new supplies and offloading our old supplies, I worked with Danik and Jefferson to clean the forward van and organize the materials/consumables inside. It was a fairly short day since we had just finished the cruise, and we knocked off at about 1400. In the evening, we had a barbecue hosted by the scientists to celebrate a successful cruise and the discovery of a large coral reef.
Monday was my final day at WHOI with the Alvin Group. It was a very short day of work since it was Labor Day. The first part of the day consisted of completing some of the six month maintenance checklist. Nick and I worked to inspect and clean the emergency sleeping bags as well as the lithium hydroxide emergency CO2 scrubbers. After doing that, we worked on cleaning out our rooms to make sure that they were prepared for the next cruise. It was strange feeling knowing that I would be leaving the ship and going back to school soon. I reflected for a bit on everything I just experienced in the last month and the profound things I learned about myself and the world of marine engineering/science over the course of this internship. After we were all done with our work, we had dinner at a restaurant in Woods Hole, and said our farewells.
Looking back at this past month, I can honestly say that I’ve had the time of my life and have learned plenty of new skills. I’ve learned more about what it means to work on a tight-knit team to ensure that Alvin works properly and is safely launched/recovered, and I’ve learned what it’s like to live and work at sea. I loved learning about and working with the sub’s hydraulics systems and finding out about the reasons why Alvin works the way it does. I feel that I’ve also developed a better work ethic from this experience as well as a stronger interest in marine engineering and operations. I am grateful to have been a part of this cruise and will never forget the people I’ve met and the lessons I’ve learned from this experience. Thanks for following my experiences with the Alvin Group as we sailed along the East Coast aboard the R/V Atlantis!
-Nick Ellis
Greetings! I’ve now completed my third week aboard the R/V Atlantis and have spent the whole week at sea as we travel down to the coast of Florida. My third week has consisted of many sub launches and recoveries, as well as adjusting to life at sea.
Tuesday was a dive day, so we woke up early and got to work on the pre-dive checks. I worked on windows mainly and securing tools and containers on the collection basket. The day was very similar to Monday, except that the dive wasn’t cut short. When we recovered the sub, however, there were many squid trapped inside the skins and in the cabling. I immediately found and took out three squid that measured about 18 inches each and gave them to the scientists. I later learned that they planned on taking stable isotopes from the squid to eventually be able to know at what tropic level they were eating. Finding the squid in the sub was the highlight of my day because I did not expect to see such a thing.
Wednesday was going to be a dive day, but due to high winds we were not able to launch and had to scratch the dive. Instead, we worked on maintenance and some projects that we had waiting. I worked on clearing out the rest of the squid from Alvin’s skins and frame and spent about two to three hours on it. The squid were starting to stink up the hangar, and in total I found eight squid (including the ones from yesterday). I also saw a massive car carrier ship about a mile and a half away from us which was interesting because I didn’t think that I would see other ships during the cruise. Nick and I worked to clean the mech shop and we also stowed more supplies in the hold/forward van. Danik and Nick got the broken Titan 4 working again and we mounted it on Alvin to test the hydraulics. In the evening, I went up to visit Kenny and Raul at the bridge, and Kenny explained to me what they use their different instruments for. I learned that many of the tools aboard are redundancies for double and triple checking things like heading, obstacles, and weather. Kenny also showed me the paper map that they use to track and map their course. The view was spectacular and though it was very cloudy, we could see the sky lit up by lightning and the moonlight reflect into the water.
Thursday was a dive day in search of coral samples. The water was dead calm and the sky was a clear blue and dotted with spectacular clouds. With more sun, the water was sort of glowing a deep blue color as it lapped against the ship. The Alvin launch went smoothly and we knocked off at 1000. I explored the ship a little more and relaxed for a bit, then at about 1630 Alvin surfaced and we began our recovery process. I was able to participate more in it because I had been watching previous times. I hosed down the sub with freshwater and helped test the hydraulic lines for any saltwater leakage. I also inspected some of the junction boxes for leakage and the skins for deformities. Watching the scientists unload their samples of coral was very exciting, and I even got a small piece of lophelia coral which is a deep-water coral. Afterwards I went to the bow to enjoy the sunset and all the clouds that surrounded it. It was a sight to behold and looked just like a painting with the some clouds towering over us and others smudged across the purple/orange sky.
I was surprised when Friday came around because I wasn’t keeping track of the days while at sea. I heard this would happen, and that I would only know days as dive days/non-dive days. Anyways, today was a dive day and we did pre-dive as usual. The winds were strong and the ship was rolling and pitching a lot today, but everything went smoothly. Afterwards, I organized the mech shop until about 1000 when I got to take a three hour break. Afterwards, I helped with post-dive and was able to learn/do a new task which was to throw the tow line to the small boat and call out when it was secure. I also sprayed down Alvin, checked all of the oil lines for saltwater leakage, and inspected the junction boxes near the sail (plastic orange piece up top). After that, I helped Nick do some inventory on what consumables we had and what we had to order for the next cruise. We checked around the hold and the forward van for the necessary supplies, and by the time we finished that everyone else was already done with setting up the basket. This meant that we were able to finish the day quite early today (at 1630) which left plenty of time to unwind, enjoy the sunset off the bow and rest up.
On Saturday we woke up early to do the pre-dive checks and I was surprised by the lovely sunset that was off the starboard side of the ship. It was a great mixture of oranges, blues, and purples and the sun was partially obscured by some clouds which made the light reflect nicely. Interestingly, I realized that the sun was rising off the starboard side of the ship and remembered that just the night before it had set on the same side. I was baffled for a split second and then realized we must’ve changed our direction. I found it surprising that I did not feel anything or notice that we had flipped around. The dive went well and Alvin brought up many samples including some bamboo coral which looked just like bamboo but slightly lighter in color. Danik also trained me to use the lathe and the mill, which was a good refresher for me, and we worked on turning/milling a camera handle for a member of the camera crew. I learned that the process of putting the grip marks on a handle is called knurling which is done with a special tool on the lathe. After recovering the sub, we completed the post-dive and worked re-tool the basket. We knocked off around 2030 and after playing a game of chess with Max, I went to sleep.
Sunday was a dive day and a day full of side projects. By now we were diving off the coast of Florida and Georgia. I got to work on cleaning the windows and helped complete the pre-dive. After Alvin had commenced its dive down in the Gulf Stream, Nick and I got to work on unclogging the sink in our mech shop. We started by using wire to remove debris from inside the upper part of the plumbing and removed one of the plugs on the side of the piping. After cleaning out the debris there, the sink was still plugged so we asked a crewmember to help us and he ended up fixing it. After break, I worked on building a small PVC table for a member of the science crew and turned the legs on the lathe to get them to fit snugly inside the table-top. When I had finished my lathing work it was time to recover the sub, so I went to the aft deck to prep everything. I set out a hose for the freshwater cleaning, some tools for removing panels and some oil bottles with Swagelock connectors to test the oil drainage connections on Alvin. After watching the recovery go smoothly, I got to work on the post-dive and hosed off Alvin, checked the Swagelock connectors for any leaks, and inspected the buoyancy/skins for any damage. I also inspected and greased the lifting T once Alvin was rolled back into the hangar and helped with unload. After dinner, I finished work on the PVC table and glued the legs into their proper sockets. By then it was time to knock off and relax for the rest of the evening which consisted of playing a game of Settlers of Catan with Nick and Max.
On Monday we had a dive and completed all of our pre-dive checks. After the sub was in the water, I worked on scrubbing the hangar down with Jake and later worked to sort the drawers of tools in the mech shop. The time for sub on surface (SOS) was 1700, so we prepared the aft deck for the recovery and post-dive. I worked on testing all of the hydraulic oil lines, inspecting the various junction boxes for leaks, and inspecting the lifting T. It turned out to be a very late night for some of the ops group because they found a ground in the main ballast tanks. Grounds are undesirable and must be avoided because they lead to corrosion on the sub’s body and shorting. I learned that Alvin can be operated as long as there are five or fewer of these grounds. Some of the more senior members of the group stayed up late working down the line of things that could have caused the ground. In the end, they found that they had to change out a sphere penetrator which is what caused the fix to take so long. The sphere penetrators must be handled and maintained carefully because they are some of the few things that create holes in the sphere.
On Tuesday we had our fourth to last dive. When I came out at 0530 to clean the windows, I expected the sub to still need working on from the previous night, but it was all put together. The launch and dive went well, and while we were on break (waiting for Alvin to complete its dive) my mentor Bruce told about how he had seen a swordfish drop coral on the sub in a sort of aggressive attack. He found it interesting because he had never seen such behavior. I learned that swordfish are often eaten by giant squid, so it was possible that the swordfish thought Alvin was predator like the squid. During recovery and post-dive I found some water had leaked into the Main Ballast Blow Box, and notified Jefferson. After inspecting it, he decided to watch for a couple more dives to see if the issue got worse and the old box needed repairs. I worked until about 2030 with Todd and Bruce on setting up the new basket for Wednesday’s dive and securing various crates of tools such as collections of push cores, the slurp (vacuum), bio boxes, niskins for water samples, and mussel pots for collecting mussel-populated patches of earth.
Thanks for reading this week’s update about my internship with the Alvin Group! On this cruise, I’ve learned so much about how Alvin is maintained, tested, and operated. I’ve also learned quite a bit about life at sea and the continuous work that must be done to maintain the R/V Atlantis and Alvin.
The day after my last post the sound of the boat’s engine turning on woke me up and I rushed to the bow to see us off. It felt surreal to watch the land recede behind us, but it also felt so natural. As we did safety drills and briefings throughout the day, everything followed easily and seemed normal. Somehow, existing on this ship doesn’t feel as intimidating as I thought it would.
Somehow, the schedule of working on Alvin has become normal already. We’re normally at work at 5:30am, do pre-dive checks on the sub until 8 (sometimes we have time to grab breakfast in between). During the time between wake up and launch, I am primarily doing the “extra guy duties”, so I prepare the everything to go into the sub (all the towels, food, cameras, etc) and then prepare the external cameras. At 8, the sub rolls out, and then I assist with adding ballast to each side and attaching pressure relief valves to the battery oil knobs (without those pressure relief valves, the hydrogen produced by the batteries could be enough to blow the battery cases).
Because of how short Nick and my time on the boat is, we aren’t able to get trained on any of the more specialized jobs (which I’m slightly disappointed about, mostly because the water looks amazing, and I really want an excuse to get in). However, it is still beyond magical to watch this 23 ton chunk of titanium and oil be lifted into the air as if it weights nothing. No matter how many videos I watched, I still didn’t feel ready for how amazing it was to see it lifted off the ground.
Our first dive day has been my favorite so far because 7 squid got stuck in various parts of the sub. I certainly feel bad for the squid, but it was incredible to hold them and to see how big they were. Later that day, I watched some of the footage from the dive and it was amazing to see the cloud of squid surround the sub and know that I had held one of the ones from he video.
The sunsets out here have been incredible. I have always loved sunsets, but seeing them completely unobstructed is unlike anything I’ve seen before. Because we frequently work through sunset, I am almost always outside during sunset. I think that that is one of the things that I will miss the most. Even though I am surrounded by people all the time when I’m onboard, I feel alone and so small and insignificant when I stand at the stern and look at the sunset.