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DAY 1 - 4/21/2006: ARRIVAL ON SITE
by Jenny VanderPluym
On our first afternoon of operations we made initial contact with artisanal
Haitian fishermen and had a “gear shake-down dive”. Much to our delight,
the seas were calm enough to lull a baby to sleep. All divers suited
up as the ship’s crew launched two small crafts with impressive skill
and agility. The atmosphere on deck was one of excitement and nerves.
Today’s dive focused on orientation, exploration, and safety checksóno data collection yet. Some folks practiced their fish identification skills while others became more familiar with the camera equipment.
dive prep camera
photo by Christine Addison) |
Navassa Wall by Abagail Poray |
Highlights of the dive included
- juvenile conch
- black wire coral
- a rare sighting of a large Nassau grouper
- visibility of 100 feet and beyond
Only one word could sum up today’s activities: OUTSTANDING!