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| A
small, plastic football was taken to the depths today on Alvin’s
basket to see if it would shrink. The ball came to the surface
still the same size as it was when it went down, not changing
shape or size at any point during the dive. There are a couple
hypotheses floating around the ship about why the pressure didn’t
affect the ball’s structure. Do you have any? |
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| Shown
here in the pilot’s seat of Alvin, Gavin
completes another Pilot-in-Training (PIT) dive today, his last
for this expedition. (See
his journal entry.) |
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| Several bright, orange flags are used to mark certain research sites. |
|
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| …Meanwhile,
aboard the ship, we had our third and final Fire and Boat Drill
this morning (1030). During the “evacuate ship” portion of the
drill, Liz
practices using the emergency radio to let the Bridge know that
the group has mustered in the appropriate area.
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| We also had a demonstration of how to use the emergency flares aboard, in case we ever have to signal for help. Rick Bean (3rd Mate) explains the proper procedures. |
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| Pop! There it goes…fire in the sky! |
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| Afterwards,
George
Silva (1st Mate, see his journal entry) addresses the group
regarding the different types of flares and when to use them as
not to waste the limited number aboard. |
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| Last practice activity of the day was to learn how to use the fire hoses (high-pressure saltwater), but first the line had to be cleared from the deck and stored. |
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| Several
crew members took their positions, hoses in hand, on the bow.
From left to right: Phil
Treadwell (Oiler), Mike Spruill (Oiler), Paul Vinitsky (3rd
Engineer), Ed “Catfish” Popowitz (Able Bodied Seaman), Raul Martinez
(Ordinary Seaman), Jim McGill (Able Bodied Seaman), and Jerry
Graham (Able Bodied Seaman)] |
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|
On the upper deck, several of the scientists and other crew members
get a feel for using and controlling the hoses. Here, Brian
Glazer (left) gives a hand to Eddie Estaniel (Ordinary Seaman,
right). |
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| Everyone continues to rotate through to get a chance to work the hose. Even I had to put down my cameras for my turn at the nozzle. |
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| Once
the demonstration is completed, Pat
(Alvin Expedition Leader) folds and secures the hose in its case.
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| Later
Atlantis came across a large piece of plywood that was
fished out of the water. It split into two pieces once it was
brought aboard due to an infestation of “ship” or “wood” worms.
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| These worms are considered the “termites of the sea,” and you probably can guess why just by looking at the damage they can cause. |
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| The
wood also had several other inhabitants that were attached to
it — crabs. We are not sure what species these are, but at least
one of them is a gravid (carrying fertilized eggs) female.
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| Take a closer look. They’re not the cutest crabs I’ve ever seen. |
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| When
Alvin finally returned, after a long and successful dive,
the shrunken, Styrofoam cups were overflowing from their compartment.
Now that it’s getting toward the end of the cruise, more people
are trying to make their last-minute souvenirs.
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