1417 We’re at 350m, descending at 25m/minute, slower than the usual 30m/minute. Tony estimates this will add 20 minutes to our descent.

Discussion: Why does Alvin spiral during descent?

1606 We observe a new plume below.

     X 4414  Y 78823

1613 Sonar shows an enormous dip. We have come down into a huge collapse.

     X 4360 Y 78907

    This is not where we’re supposed to have landed. Given the wrong x y?

1630 We reach our first destination, the LVWS.

     X 4415  Y 78997

1644 We move off with the LVWS to reposition it.

1657 Biomass: Observed Riftia, lobsters, crabs, and a prototrap.

     X 4449 Y 78771

1712 Michael’s Vent: Observed Alvinella

     X 4438 Y 78729

     We move right up to an Alvinella clump and begin sampling from a small chimney.

            We took ten sips from areas of relatively high (40-71h) and low (17-40)             temperatures. 

            Sipper #1  37-71º in 172330 out 172626

            Sipper #2 14-40º in 173125 out 173436

            Sipper #3 48-52º in 173657 out 173833

            Sipper #4 same tube as #3, fire 173923

            Sipper #5 23-40º in 174039 out 174240

            Sipper #6  19-31º in 174439  out 174747

            Sipper #7  41-52º in 175436  out 175612

            Sipper #8  40-49º in 175912 out 180425

            Sipper #9 22-38º in 181051  out 181930

            Sipper #10 17-31º in 182605 out 182756

1840 Sample Alvinella, and load into Arty.

1845 Pnone Call to the Deep.  Worm sampling continues throughout!

192106 Tony gathers Alvinella into Arty #2 chamber from cooler part of the chimney, 17-40º.

192443 Tony finishes gathering worms from warmer part of chimney. (Arty #3)

193541 Tony finishes gathering worms from cooler part of chimney. (Arty #2)

193925 Both Arty chambers #2 and #3 are flooded.

1941 LVWS set down.

194817 LVWS deployed, with probe in the bed of Alvinella from which we sampled with Arty and the Sipper. High temperature probe: 30º

1951 A critical eye is cast over the frying pan. It is lifted up and examined.

    Temperatures32-40º deemed not sufficient to induce growth. It is loaded.

• Depart for Mussels Bed. Discussion with Atlantis: Go back to LVWS and bring it up?

     X 4443  Y 78688

    Observe hnhGalathea lobsters galore. Copious clams. Masses of mussels. Crabs til Christmas.

    We collect clams and mussels in starboard forward biobox. Tony agrees to come with me to the diner at some future time and win me prizes in the claw machine.

2033 Exit mussel bed, bound for Tica.

2040 Atlantis says they’re trying to release the LVWS acoustically.

2047 Arrive in Tica.  Rafts of Riftia in marvelous abundance. Crabs, eelpouts.                 X 4609  Y 78215

2055 High-temperature probe in smoker: 284º 

2058 We collect sulfide from the beehive of a chimney structure. Back bio box gets a load of Riftia.

205812 NO OVERLAY

2100 High-temperature probe: 188º 

2107 Frying pan is deployed.

2110 Gathering Riftia and a piece of rock from below it. This goes into the back biobox.

2131 Freddy, Extreme Experiment egg, is placed into the black smoker. Depth 2511.25m.

    Before frying, Tony pronounced the egg not broken and looking good.

2136 High-temperature probe: 323º

2137 Freddy removed from heat, gets packed into Arty container #1.

213846  NO OVERLAY

213943 “All weights away.”

2300 At surface back biobox comes open, a few things lost.