DIVE 3520
17 JANUARY 2000

Pilot: Bruce Strickrott
Port Observer: Barb Campbell
Starboard Observer: Brian Glazer

Time and Event

8:05 — Splashed in. Jellyfish, bioluminescence, long diatoms chains throughout water column.

09:11 — 1300 m, powered on electrochemistry and tested wand electrodes.

09:48 — 2106 X,1564 Y; dropped all weight by 18 m above and had visual at 7 m above. Immediately found large Riftia clump.

9:58 — Surveyed Riftia clump, estimated to be 7.5 m tall. Hi-temperature survey ranged up to 70° C near Riftia.

10:15 — Electrochemistry for wand at top, middle, and base of Riftia; sipper samples #1 and #2 (10:27 and 10:58) at top and base. (pH=7-7.5 again, sulfide present) temp ~4° C. Surveyed flange near Riftia, less than 20° C, so searched and found young beehive (round chimney) at up to 240° C in orifice, 120 – 170° C at orifice.

11:36 — First wand and sipper #3.

11:56 — Electrochemistry, (12° – 40° C) great video of wand and site on P&T camera (11:30 – Noon).

Noon — Moved closer to chimney and scanned electrochemistry & sipper #4 (12:17AM) (T=80 –120).

12:34 — Collected beehive, or parts thereof.

12:36 — Fired aft Nisken in diffuse flow (fore Nisken malfunctioned on attempt in diffuse flow).

12:40 — Departed for K2.

12:52 — Combination of Bruce’s excellent driving and grabbing skills caught large female crab, (there were two together).

13:10 — Great young chimney (spire) spotted, video on 3 chip.

13:26 — 2276X,1623Y. Electrochemistry and sipper #5 (13:55) at orifice ranged 80° – 120° C.

13:42 — CO2 problems within the sub, wand moved, knocked over chimney (on video?) fried wand tip (~170° C), but still good electrodes around.

13:42 – 13:55 — CO2 problem in the submarine solved.

14:00 — Retrieved what was left of chimney.

14:05 — Surveyed nearby flange, 70-degree edge wand and sipper #6.

14:25 — Poor rock sample – soft edge, no net, ended up in basket.

14:37 — Left for clam bed. Three rat-tail fish, lots of jellies on way.

15:01 — 2504X,1541Y. Unable to find living clams, proceeded toward bacterial mats. Saw 2 – 3 small chimneys coming up right out of the mud.

15:07 — Low electrical power noted. Not enough time to safely find adequate bacterial mat and do push cores, so dive was terminated.