Hello again!

These past few days have been jam-packed with science during night shift between the fine-scale acoustic studies, bongo and IKMT net tows, Brandyn Lucca’s target strength science and Cassie Fries’s g-measurements, that y’all learned about during her blog post. So much science! My favorite organisms that we caught were a massive pyrosoam (it was honestly probably a foot long) and a beautiful species of copepod, commonly known as the Sea Sapphire (Family Sapphirina). Those copepods look like they’re covered in bright blue sparkles, but you can only see its iridescence when you flash a light over it.

Today, the day shift is going to be recovering a lander but soon after deployment, it sounds like we’re going to be making a run for cover from some rough seas predicted to be taking place in the area soon. Unfortunately, that means that both day and night shifts might be a little quiet but luckily, we’re a fun bunch of people and have been finding ways to enjoy each other’s company. Last night, since we were transiting, we stayed up all night playing a game called popcorn, picture a game similar to Taboo and Charades. It was a riot.

Since we were all so invested in science the past few nights, I spaced out and forgot to take pictures of organisms and people.  However, we did manage to take a selfie today in the bridge with Chief Mate, Chris Armanetti while looking for marine mammals and the lander after it was summoned with a transducer on board.

Honestly, I have learned so much on the trip both with science and life, so I’m pretty jazzed we still have a few more days! Shoutout again to my Mom, Dad, Amy and Rob!

Best Fishes,

Bri Cahill