Mission Journal 1–Roger Garcia: Mission Day 1: Monday, December 5, 2005

I began writing my draft “Day One” Journal as most people probably would. Writing about the day’s accounts as they happened, perhaps including a description of an underwater scene, so well written that when read, would draw the reader in as if they were actually there seeing themselves. Although many of the day’s accounts would be note worthy in their own right, I choose to write of one specific event.

Four NOAA Undersea Research Center (NURC) divers, Ross Hein, Hal Letts, Dominic Landucci and Roger Garcia left the dock as the “Advanced Party” so to speak, on the R/V Delta. Dominic and I were to complete the “Day of saturation Aquarius systems” checks before the other five Navy divers joined me later that day. I suppose at this point most would see the obvious, four NURC divers on a forty five minute boat ride out to Aquarius to make sure all of her systems are running properly.

Perhaps…but I saw no such thing. I saw trust! Trust, that these four men, these four NURC divers were capable of ensuring Aquarius, the world’s only underwater habitat, was working as she was meant to work.