Sea Crazy (28.27, 153.29)

There are two groups of instruments, from two different universities, that we are collecting. One of the groups instruments are preforming beautifully and the recoveries are quick and efficient (about 2.5 hours). Group #2's instruments however, are a bunch of dysfunctional ghetto hoopties. The recoveries, if they come up, are taking 5-7 hours.

Due to these interactions, the OBSes have taken on personalities in my head. They are like little animals.  I picture the first group, lets call them G1, are like well behaved and loveable pets. They look really cute bobbing around at sea and when the finally get on deck they look so happy. I picture them wagging their tail with excitment and breathing heavily after holding their breath for a year. As Danny so well put it "I picture them sitting on the deck with a big squishy smile looking up at you with their little eyebrows raised, really trying to look up because they can't move, as though looking for your approval on the trick they just did by rising to the surface on command." It just makes me want to hug them.


When we have to pick up the second group, G2, it is an exhausting experience. It is like watching someones poorly behaved dog that is whiny and pees all over your house. When I see the G2s limply bobbing in the ocean, I look at them a bit irritated and disgusted. They seem like pail weaklings that can't fend for themselves, don't behave well and just flounder in the water. But then I feel a little sorry for them, because it is not their fault that their owners did not invest in high-tech, fail-proof design. But I still don't like them.

One thing that probably does not help the irritation is that when we are actively talking to the OBS, the ship has to be turned off. We communicate with acoustics, so the extra noise from the engines interferes with the command signals. One thing I have learned is that being on a ship dead in the water is twice as bad as being on a moving ship. Every wave is exaggerated. It is like being on the teacup ride and they won't let you off. When we collect the G1s, the ship is only turned off for about 30 mins when we tell it to let go of its anchor. The G2s, since they don't behave properly, force the ship to be off for 5 to 7 hours. So by the time the G2s surface, there is not a very big place in my heart for them.  


Perhaps I am getting a bit Sea Crazy. Either way, OBS collecting is half way over. They were deployed in two clusters and we finished the first group today.  We have 8 more OBSes to pickup, 5 G1s and 3 G2s.

We now get to relax for about 17 hours as we transit to the location of the 2nd group. I think we are all taking advantage in the momentary lull in action to catch up on sleep, do some laundry and to knit. OK, well maybe just Tina and I are knitting.