March 5th, Into the Water

Putting ADCP in water.

Billy, Ian and Shannon installing ADCP.

Today we got to go out on the boat for the first time and dive to deploy the instruments that we have been working on over the last couple of days.  It was really refreshing since we were all getting lab fever after being stuck inside for the last 2 days.

We went to the west side of the island to deploy the ADCP to measure water currents and put out time lapse cameras to document a fish spawning event that takes place during the full moon every month.  Thousands of fish converge at this single point, but it is not well understand how and why this event happens.  

We also went to find a sensor that records waves and the water level that we put out last year.  The first group was unsuccessful, but a second group went in and found it later.  Imagine trying to find a banana in a field of wild flowers.  It was a beautiful dive, but it was hard to take in the scenary when we were looking for the sensor.

 See you tomorrow.

Sawyer, lab cat.