09/01/26

Today I woke up early to get back onto the day shift schedule so I could wash sediment without waiting for the CTD, which can only be deployed at night since Alvin takes up daytime hours. We washed the first few samples of a different core than yesterday that was much easier to wash. We were also able to find some of the foraminifera species we had been searching for. We scanned each centimeter for live foraminifera, but only found a few viable specimens. This process took us most of the day. In the evening I got to relax a little and watched Hamilton the movie with friends. 

We also took a break in the middle of the day to watch Alvin come back up to the ship. The process is very involved. They send out a small life boat with swimmers to guide Alvin back to the Atlantis. It is then carried up by crane and placed on tracks that lead into a garage on the ship. There is a ladder near the edge of the tracks where the people in Alvin can climb down to get out. They usually get their pictures taken and we all cheered for the folks who went, emphasizing those who had their first dive. Before Alvin is put to rest in the garage, it needs to be cleaned off so the saltwater doesn’t linger and do damage.

Alvin coming back on deck after a dive.