We must’ve done something to please the weather gods because it’s another stunning day out in the middle of the Tasman.
Everyone’s briefed and fed before daybreak, in time to see the most beautiful sunrise while preparing to launch the DropCam.
It’s going to be a big day. With such perfect conditions, and weather looking likely to turn on us soon, we aim to conduct two DropCam dives today, which means a few key people from the crew and our team spending a lot of time in the baking hot container on deck, operating the winch and the DropCam.
We manage two long transects today in great conditions – the images streaming through are incredible. We’re really at the depths we want to be operating at now – around 1200 metres, in key coral habitat.
After a lengthy first dive, the captain agrees conditions are good enough for us to cool off with a swim.
It’s not everyday you get to experience swimming in the deep waters of the Tasman, hundreds of miles from land. The water is perfect, and I can’t stop thinking about the incredible hidden world a kilometre beneath us.
Day 13: Help from afar
Our last dive on this site is plagued by software issues. Luckily, we’ve got tech support – based in the UK – on speed dial. We’re at 1200 metres when he connects directly to our system and sets about trying to fix what’s broken.
All of us find it quite surreal that a guy from London has essentially just been beamed to the bottom of the Tasman Sea while he has his dinner. The fix works, and we’re able to complete the survey successfully.
Conditions are starting to turn on us by midday, and we know we’re in for a lumpy journey back towards Challenger Plateau. Everything gets stored and lashed, and a few of us head for being horizontal in the afternoon to ride out the waves.
