On the Atlantis for good

So today we said good-bye from terra firma for good.

I took a last picture at the lighthouse before getting on the water taxi.

The locals tried to sell us some fresh caught fish before we left. Considering how the crew of the Atlantis loves to fish and catch dinner, I think we won't have to worry about food!

Leaving Puntarenas for the last time. Note the mountains in the background. What a beautiful view.

After a morning meeting and briefing, it was back to work.

This is something that is truly "one-of-a kind" device. It is designed to measure water samples at a particular depth. The data collected from this water will be used to determine reactive oxygen species. Basically, the animals that live there use a certain amount of oxygen. This information can only be learned by being out here. We have been putting this together for 2 days now.

We eat at specific times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you miss a meal, you miss a meal. You learn very quickly to be on time, every time.

This is our cafeteria. Great food - always fresh seafood!

Today is also the day that we have to watch safety videos about how to deal with emergencies such as fire on the ship. Safety is always stressed as working at sea can be dangerous. Tomorrow we will have a muster drill to practice evacuation procedures and learn to put on our "Gumby" suits - designed to go on in the event of us having to go into the water.

After dinner, we all go out on deck to watch the sunset and to enjoy the night air.

This is the view of Puntarenas at night.

A long day "at sea" even though we were just offshore!

At our evening meeting, the ALVIN dive assignments were given out. It seems we will be having 15 dives. I will be on Dive #3. I also found out that Cape Henlopen will be receiving another "vent chimney" from a hydrothermal vent. I brought one back from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge aboard the R/V Knorr in 2012. More about that later. It's been a long day!