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Day 5: July 21, 2005

Weather and sea conditions continue to hold for us as we travel through Onslow Bay on the NC shelf. Today we had two more exceptional dive sites that were in water depths from 115 to 130 ft deep.


Air Temperature: 90 °F
Surface Water Temperature: 79 °F
Bottom Water Temperature: 76 °F

Dive Team 1 (surveyors): Doug Kesling, Roldan Munoz, Paula Whitfield
Dive Team 2 (collectors): Christine Addison, Casey Coy, Joe Hoyt, Jay Styron
Safety divers: Clem Shemanski, Tracey Hamburger, Dave Score, Joe Bishop

But conditions in the water were very difficult due to a strong current which caused Dive Team 1 to miss the down line, we swam in the sand for almost 10 minutes before we found our site. We conducted a survey and found lionfish on the transect as well as an abundance of other tropical fishes (rock beauties and butterfly fish) and groupers (scamp, gag and yellowfin). Dive Team 2 was unable to make it to the site because of the currents which swept them far off the dive site. At the afternoon dive location, both teams made successful dives, and Team 2 came up with five live lionfish. This brings our total live lionfish in the tanks to 35. Temperature sensors were also deployed at each of these locations.

swimming transect with clipboard to record sightings
To conduct underwater surveys we use meter tapes so that we know the distance. We use clipboards with waterproof  paper to record fish species and number. Here Roldan Munoz is surveying a relatively sparse habitat  with very low relief.
Courtesy of Doug Kesling.
lionfish along transect
As a diver swims along the meter tape, all lionfish and native groupers are counted. The width of the transect is approximately 10 meters, but it may change depending on the limits of visibility. Here a lionfish is seen along one of the transects at the low relief site.
Courtesy of Doug Kesling.

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