Posted by graduate student Alison Sipe, University of Delaware College of Marine Studies.

It was a long Alvin dive today, lasting close to eight hours total. The scientists found such wonderful vent sites that they had a hard time concluding their work and coming to the surface. The Alvin pilot Steve Faluotico was feeling a little stiff upon emerging from the sphere. Muscle aches and sore backs are all in a day’s work for the Alvin pilots; they sit hunched over to peer through the view port so that they can maneuver the sub through the convoluted vent features. They also look at the view port when they operate the manipulator arms to acquire precision vent samples. The pilots are truly skilled and educated about the hydrothermal vents. They are true assets to marine science.

The principle objective of today’s dive (#3518) was to return to the vents and collect additional sulfides, microbes, sediment cores, and worms. Pilot Steve Faluotico and the science observers, Martial Taillefert and Phillip Taylor collected key samples for the research party. They thoroughly collected Riftia tubeworms, water samples, flanges, and vent chemistry at two prominent sites in the Guaymas Basin, K2 and Robin’s Roost. The electrochemistry work using the chemical sensors is working very well. George Luther, Don Nuzzio, Martial, Liz McCliment, and Tim Rozan are the scientists mainly involved in the electrochemistry work and are quite happy with their results so far.

The scientists are frustrated that the sediment coring is not going as easily as planned. Collecting good sediment cores is a major objective of tomorrow’s dive. Three coring instruments (plastic cylinders 12 inches long and 4 inches in diameter) have been taken down on each of the dives, but tomorrow five will be used to ensure that good samples are collected. Tim Rozan is one of the scientists interested in the chemistry of these sediment environments. He will be the starboard observer on the Alvin dive tomorrow. Melissa Kendall will be the other observer in the sub, and pilot Blee Williams will operate Alvin.

One prominent feature of the Guaymas Basin hydrothermal vents is that the Riftia tubeworms are gigantic! The animals collected during the dive were 4 feet long — that’s a pretty big worm. Biologist Tim Shank described them as “big boys” at the science meeting, but then later discovered that they were actually female. A number of the scientists including Tim Shank are interesting in collecting samples of tubeworms and other vent organisms during this cruise. There were plenty of worms to go around today.

We have been sailing for four days now and already people have needed to do laundry. Mom’s not around to pick up the basket of dirty clothes and return them neatly folded. The washer and drier are two floors below the main deck, just next to the large walk-in refrigerator and freezer where the steward stows the perishable food. Chief Scientist Craig Cary has spent many days at sea during his scientific career and actually has a specific set of “cruise clothing.” He keeps these garments in a bag at his office at the University of Delaware and pulls it out of the drawer before each cruise. This makes packing for the cruise quite simple. And better yet, the bell bottoms from the ’70’s still make great labwear. Just kidding, Craig!