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THE MAINE EVENT: SUMMER 2002 Predation by Gelatinous Zooplankton in the Gulf of Maine Dispatch 7 Wednesday, July 09 2002 Latitude: 40°17.408"N • Longitude: 68°06.792"W Dispatch by Megan Tinsley, University of Tennessee 
Prior to each dive, members of both the sub crew and the science team prep the
JOHNSON-SEA-LINK (JSL) for travel
and successful 'critter collection'. The sub crew triple checks all operating systems, such
as batteries, thrusters, lights and emergency measures to guarantee the safety of the
passengers, while the science team loads collection buckets and ensures each one
will function properly throughout the dive.
Just before "lift off" a member of the team displays a sign (left) signifying the
dive number for the laser-scaled video camera mounted on the frame.
After all checks are performed and the dive team is seated "comfortably" inside, the sub ops director and winch operator on deck skillfully guide the A-frame to lift the JSL's hefty 14-tons over the churning water just aft of the stern. The moment the sub reaches the sea surface, the pilot and the Aft Compartment Technician must confirm there is a tight seal around all hatches before the pilot is given permission to release the tether which connects the sub to the ship. The supporting lines are cast off and the JSL is free once again to enter earth's immense inner space. Descending through the ocean, this trip is a scuba diver's dream. We remain exactly neutral with only a slight change of ballast required to maneuver up or down the water column. Each dive gives passengers a chance to observe midwater creatures in their natural environment, perhaps even a species thus far undiscovered. Ventures into this realm are 
filled with mystery and suspense, and no two dives are exactly the same. Three and a half
hours seems to last only moments as we probe the perpetual darkness of the Gulf, never knowing
what might drift by the acrylic sphere or the two glass portholes along the sides of the aft
aluminum compartment. Too soon it's time to return to the world above. As we transit from
the depths at a rate of 100 feet per minute, buoyancy is regulated by an exchange of air and
water in the ballast tanks. When re-entering the sunlit surface waters, air bubbles released
to slow the ascent envelop the sphere.
As we make our way around the starboard side of the ship towards the stern, I hear a loud "SPLASH" as the sub crew swimmer dives into the chilly water to greet our arrival. As soon as the sub is secure, members of the science team scurry to carry the samplers into the cold room while the sub crew begins recharging the batteries for the next dive, Number 3276. Do you have a question for the researchers on this ocean expedition? Why not ask a scientist @Sea?  |  |
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