Finally arriving at dive site!

Another transit day.

This is a CTD. We should arrive at our destination at about 9:30 PM local time. Once we arrive, we will do a CTD cast to collect water samples at various depths. CTD stands for conductivity (to measure pH), temperature, and depth. We will take water samples at 6 different depth levels - surface, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, and 2500 meters.

A group of our scientists is preparing to collect this data so that we get a preliminary view of what ions are in the water.

The CTD being lowered over the side and into the water. Talk about good visibility - it is about 30 feet down when I took this picture.

After that, the plan is to put a small ROV down to the bottom (about 2,500 meters) and put down some homing markers that the submersible can follow to ensure that they have maximum bottom time.

Tomorrow is the big day! The first ALVIN dive. We have spent these many days organizing and testing our instruments, making sure that everything is functioning as planned.

At our 1:00 PM meeting, we were given the dive plan and the arrangement of what goes on the 4' X 4' basket on the front. There is a lot of planning that goes into each and every dive. Everything is set out the day before and is ready to go by 7:00 AM. Lots of planning!

Tomorrow's plan is a "get familiar" with the area dive. Its primary purpose is to visit some known sites along the bottom and verify that everything is still there. Remember, this is an active volcanic area and eruptions change it completely as recent as every few years. It has been some time since the site has last been visited.

Biologically speaking, the plan also calls for the collection of at least two Riftia (giant tubeworms), some Tevnia (smaller tubeworms that at more rare), and any microbial (bacterial) mats that can be found and place them in the biobaskets - the rectangular black and clear coffin looking things. We will also bring back some mussels and clams. This should make for some amazing pictures in tomorrow's blog post.

The arm in the right of the picture is holding one major sampler (the things I have been building and am responsible for) which it will fire and collect in one hydrothermal vent. Electrochemistry happens each and every dive and tomorrow they will do some test sampling to ensure everything is working properly.

To end this post, I wanted to share another awesome moment with a dolphin that decided to ride some bow waves. Watch the cool roll at the end - tell me this animal is not having fun!

Until tomorrow.