Diving Continues
Recently, we've been focusing on following the Capitella worms, from collection under the ice to sieving to storing them on the seawater table in the Aquarium. While we have been discussing worm collection in our journals, we have also been continuing field operations. I did not want to confuse anyone, but today is a great opportunity to look back at the last week or so and evaluate all that the team has accomplished.
Drilling and Dive Sites
The team has successfully drilled 3 holes, with a fourth one on the way soon. Remember that each dive site requires about three hours of work to prepare. We need to:
- Select the site
- Tow out the drill
- Attach the drill bit
- Drill the hole
- Scoop out all the loose ice
- Place the dive hut
- Secure it into place with snow
If you haven't read the full journal on drilling the dive hole through six feet of sea ice, now is a great time to look at that process. You can read it by clicking here.
We've also scouted some future dive sites. We'll talk more about what that means later this week. Dr. Marsh just told us that we'll be drilling another hole tomorrow! Make that 4 new dive holes!
Seal Interactions
We've had a lot of seal activity around our dive holes. This has provided some up close and personal encounters with the Weddell Seal. We've seen seals in the water. We've even had a seal lounging in our dive hut! It's just one more unique addition to our diving experiences.
A friendly Weddell seal in our dive hole before a dive.
This seal hung out for about five minutes, almost inviting us to jump in and join in the fun!
If you look closely, you can see the speckled underside. Why do you think seals would be darker on their back, and lighter on their underside?
Diving
Each diver has completed about 17 dives so far. Remember, each one of those dives requires all the preparation and equipment that we've discussed. It takes a lot of people, equipment, and focus to complete a successful dive under the ice.
Most dives have been between 30 and 40 minutes. For Mike, the depths have usually been about 60 - 100 feet. The dive sites have been simply incredible, both in landscape and the amazing organisms that we have seen.
In our forum, a lot of people have been asking about what we've seen. Here's a taste of some of the unique images we've captured and enjoyed beneath the ice.
This is an animal called a nudibranch. On the most recent dive, Mike found a big one, as big as his forearm. (Photo courtesy of Adam Marsh)
On one dive with Steve Rupp, we saw a jellyfish being eaten by an anemone. (Photo courtesy of Adam Marsh)
One dive site was simply covered with anemones, like a field of anemones. Amazing! (Photo courtesy of Adam Marsh)
On a couple of recent dives, we've seen quite a few of these giant isopods. They look like underwater roaches! (Photo courtesy of Adam Marsh)
One dive site was covered in a carpet of this species of anemone. They are quite small, but very beautiful. (Photo courtesy of Adam Marsh)
We have seen lots of sea spiders. (Photo courtesy of Adam Marsh)
Lots of beautiful soft corals! (Photo courtesy of Adam Marsh)
Worms
Most importantly, we've found the marine worm that Dr. Marsh and his team are interested in, Capitella perarmata. After collecting and sieving through bucket after bucket, representing not just hours of work, but days (even weeks!) of work, we have found the organism that the team is interested in studying. A major accomplishment!