Where are we now?
Site U1412 or CRIS-9A. Off the western coast of Costa Rica, in the Pacific Ocean, only a few miles from our previous site. Our coordinates are N 8°30 min, W 84°8 min. Fewer clouds today and only sprinkles of rain.  Air temperature is 27 °C (80 °F) and the water temperature is still 33 °C (toasty!).

 

 

 

 

Nice sunset, as usual.

Scientists at Work
Successful coring!  We are getting cores coming in with regularity now, about every hour to hour and a half all day.  The sampling table is busy again, with everyone wanting to get samples from the new site. Over the loud speaker, even the announcer sounds tired.

Life on Board
Last night about 9 pm, I went outside of my office to see what I could see.  What I saw in the water was astounding…the ocean around the ship was roiling with foot-long squid!  I couldn’t take a very good picture because it was too dark.  I also saw a few flying fish in the mix, flying. I am guessing the fish (flying and others) were attracted to our lights, and the squid were there to eat them. Squid have a very peculiar way of locomotion.  They can go forward or backward, almost instantly changing direction. The whole group can instantly turn as one organism, as well, which is fascinating!

From 1900 meters above sea floor, west of Costa Rica…