objectives:
1) release camera from Milli-Q, install replacement
2) find Elevator, pickup camera and temperature probe
3) intall camera and temperature probe at Cannaport
4) find J-hook
5) install J-hook at Cantilever
6) install temperature probe at Grotto (decision made to deploy at
Puffer instead)
7) sample fluids at Puffer (not accomplished)
Dive was launched in light winds, light seas, at 0813L. During the
descent the lights for the AVCS camera on the basket (System B) came on
at 0913L. The launch target was SE of Milli-Q, reached at ~0950L.
We drove to the NW toward Milli-Q, finding the camera site with no
problem. While we worked at this site, I sketched a map of the sulfide
structures around us. Pat attached the floats we had taken down to the
camera and it was away at 0957L. In the process of attaching the
floats the camera took a fall onto its side landing hard enough that
some damage may have been done. The replacement camera, carried down
by the sub, was put in place, finishing about 1012L. We then
positioned the camera, finishing about 1025L.
We then drove to the east to search for the elevator that had been
dropped in place two nights earlier. It had been surveyed from the
surface giving a location of (5160,5900). We began our search there,
migrating to the south as we looked. I sighted the flasher at 1045,
Pat swung the sub to port, drove forward toward it (quite a way) and
then down its line. Its location was (5189,5745,2210) in an area of
rough terrain. One leg had come down very close to a pillar of basalt
which would have toppled the platform. The temperature probe was moved
to the red crate in the port foreward quarter of the basket and the
AVCS to the starboard forward quarter. The surface was then instructed
to release the elevator. We heard the commands and the response ping
and then waited for its ascent. However after twenty minutes it had
not moved and Pat pulled the release pin. It still did not move and
Pat had to lift one leg and shake the mechanism free. It was away at
1125L.
We then drove back to the west toward Cannaport. We passed a vigorous
smoker on the east side of Sully at 1141L (we did not know what the
structure was initially, but marker * was sighted shortly thereafter)
and reached Cannaport at 1147L. The camera was put in place, working
from the SE, then the temperature probe working from the SW, finishing
~1220L. The 3-chip imagery from the Cannaport orifice deserves special
attention--small "bubbles" seemed to be forming as the fluid issued
from the vent.
We then drove toward the NW to search for the J-hook which had been
dropped at (5200,6080). The terrain in the area was quite rugged and
after circling for some time we began to search toward the south,
eventually reaching a point about 250 meters distant. We then returned
to the north and at ~1323, position (5192,5979) Mary sighted the
flasher to starboard. Pat turned the sub to starboard but did not
sight it. As he continued his turn I eventually sighted two flashed at
about 8 o'clock to the sub, but no more. Pat turned back to port and
sighted it himself. The flashing was intermittent. We drove toward
the J-hook and found it in a hole. It took some time to bring it onto
the sub and manipulate the rigging, finishing about 1350L.
We then drove back to the west toward Cantilever. We passed over the
pass at AH, saw P below us to starboard, and made the turn down to
marker AS on Cantilever arriving about 1410. The J-hook was installed
finishing about 1420.
Power was short and the surface had reported earlier that the weather
was degrading. I decided that there was a significant chance this was
the last dive and that the temperature probe should be installed at
Puffer rather than at Grotto. We proceeded to turn back toward Puffer
and just as we reached the vent, we were recalled by the surface on
account of high winds. Pat put the temperature probe into position and
dropped weights. We had very little time for observing, but we all had
the impression on arriving at the site that the vent was not "puffing"
in its characteristic way. By the time the temperature probe was in
place (about 5 minutes elapsed?), the "puffing" was evident. Again the
3-chip imagery should be useful in evaluating these impressions.