It's official. Aquarius no longer belongs to the bipeds. The sea creatures have claimed squatters rights and they are guarding it with an unrelenting vengeance. They graciously allow us to use the inside quarters since it seems to afford them a great deal of amusement. We can tell because the congregate at the appropriate viewport whenever any of us are within viewable range. I'm of the belief that if there is a great deal of activity, they send out swimmers to alert neighboring reefs of the local entertainment in progress.

Our challenge comes when we go out to clean valves and such on the outside of Aquarius. I was personally smacked on the head for attempting to touch one of the valves near their favorite viewport in the galley. All was
fine, though, once they realized that whatever it was I was cleaning off of the valve was actually quite tasty. From then on, the same fish would follow me from one valve to another.

One of my favorite creatures are the arrow crabs that live just below our bunkroom. Possibly because we haven't had to face-off for valve rights. The space they have claimed for themselves is the perfect size for protection as well as for viewing the reef and all the activity above and below.

Only three days into the mission, and everyday has been new and different in terms of reef activity. There are a few, familiar neighborhood characters, but they are flexible. They will take advantage of whatever the current brings their way. And if that happens to be watching the strange creatures inside their habitat, they'll make a party of it. I can't wait to see what amuses them during the rest of our mission.