I was awakened early this morning by popping ears. It was the first time that the surface weather affected us down here at 50 feet; largely because of the 6-9 foot seas generated by Hurricane Gordon as it approached the west coast of Florida (we are on the east coast). Every time the waves passed over Aquarius, the pressure change caused our ears to pop. Annoying at first, but as the day went on, it just became part of the daily routine.

Jim and I geared up (I more grudgingly than he, as the idea of getting into a wet bathing suit and dive skin is undesirable at 0700) and we were on the travel line freeway at 0705. I was rather drowsy this morning until about 100 yards out, where I looked to my right just in time to see a large (5-6 foot) shark swim off into the murky waters. Our first job this morning was to find 100 Halimeda tuna plants that were tagged 2 weeks ago by our surface-based crew. Jim and I searched diligently, all the while being tossed around in the water by the surge. My best description would be your home washing machine... on the HIGH setting! When we felt we had done our best to find all 100 plants (actually found 98 of them), we headed back to the gazebo to fill our tanks. And, yes - eat chocolate before 0900 (don't tell my mom!).

Jim and I then returned to Aquarius and completed the rest of our dive at storage depth. Being out in the water while remaining at storage depth (same depth of the habitat) gives us unlimited time in the water. Our job was to set up 15 lines, each about 2-3 feet long at a depth of 47 feet (hatch depth). It seemed simple enough, but try tying knots in a small line that goes every which way in the surge! We came back to the habitat for lunch and a mandatory four-hour interval before heading back out for the afternoon dive. I, of course, spent these hours tucked away in my bunk.

Our first task on the afternoon dive was to find 40 plants at our 85-foot site that were beginning to grow new segments. We then tagged each plant and measured the width of each new segment. After refilling our tanks in the gazebo, we did the same thing at our 50-foot site. The measurements will be continued several times each day until we begin decompression on Tuesday afternoon in order to determine rate of growth. On the way to the gazebo, we encountered a "sharksucker" fish, without the shark. These fish attach themselves to large fishes, sharks, turtles, or rays, using a disc-shaped sucker on top of its head, to feed on "leftovers" from the host's meals. They clearly are "uncomfortable" when not attached to something, and this one made several close passes as it tried to decide if we were appropriate "hosts." Our next task was to collect 20 small (single or double axis) plants, 10 with new segments and 10 without. We brought these plants over to our "habitat" site that we set up on the morning dive and attached one of each type (with new growth and without) to each of 10 lines. We will monitor these plants over the next two days as well, to see if the new segments are preferentially grazed by herbivores. Stay tuned to Team Halimeda for further updates!

Living underwater has been the most amazing experience of my life. I see fish out my bedroom window and sharks on my morning commute. And for (hopefully) the only time in my life - I am in the wash cycle instead of my clothes! I look forward to sunshine and fresh food, but not having these is a small price to pay for being able to live underwater for 10 days!