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Expedition Journal

By September 12, 2023December 22nd, 2023No Comments

EXPEDITION JOURNAL

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April 4, 2012

Believing in Exploration

Believing in Exploration Today we made two more dives with the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER. They were brief…
April 1, 2012

The Sub Tamer

The Sub Tamer Ulithi Atoll Last night the Mermaid Sapphire left the lagoon and steamed to the deep…
March 31, 2012

The Checklist Guru

The Checklist Guru Ulithi This morning we moved the Mermaid Sapphire a short distance inside the Ulithi lagoon…
March 29, 2012

The Curiosity Chromosome

The Curiosity Chromosome Asor Island This morning we moved the Mermaid Sapphire half a mile east into the…
March 29, 2012

Creating the Expedition “Memory”

Creating the Expedition “Memory” Ulithi This morning the Mermaid Sapphire steamed south of Falalop Island for two…
March 28, 2012

Resolute Courage

Resolute Courage Ulithi At dawn this morning, after steaming southwest all night, the  Mermaid Sapphire arrived at…
March 26, 2012

We Just Did the Impossible

We Just Did the Impossible The Challenger Deep, Mariana Trench “He’s on the bottom. His…
March 23, 2012

Master Navigator

Master Navigator “We do it for the betterment of our people. We do it for…
March 22, 2012

The First Transfer

The First Transfer Onboard the S.S. Barakuda, steaming to Ulithi Atoll At midday we’re on a…
March 21, 2012

Talking with Dr. Kevin Hand

Talking with Dr. Kevin Hand At noon, the survey ship Barakuda is 130 sea miles south of…
March 20, 2012

On Route to the Challenger Deep

On Route to the Challenger Deep After a full day preparing the ship, the sub,…
March 19, 2012

Good Friends

Good Friends The wind has dropped off to 15 knots and the waves are diminishing…
March 18, 2012

A Hive of Work

A Hive of Work Apra Harbor, Guam For the past four days, 30-knot winds and…
March 15, 2012

An Issue on Everyone’s Mind

An Issue on Everyone’s Mind Apra Harbor, Guam This morning, just after sunrise, on the…
March 14, 2012

Resupply in “Typhoon Alley”

Resupply in “Typhoon Alley” Apra Harbor, Guam This morning, with wind and waves still punishing…
March 13, 2012

A Force 6 Sea

A Force 6 Sea In the western Pacific, south of Guam The big waves and…
March 12, 2012

An Adventure in Vertigo

An Adventure in Vertigo Western Pacific Ocean, in the eastern Caroline Islands We move around…
March 11, 2012

Pollywogs and Shellbacks

Pollywogs and Shellbacks A few hours after we crossed the equator, a hoary old King…
March 10, 2012

The Mother of All Oceans

The Mother of All Oceans Western Pacific Ocean, north of Papua New Guinea For all…
March 7, 2012

Record-Breaking Dive

Record-Breaking Dive Solomon Sea, south of New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea “DEEPSEA CHALLENGER had both…
March 6, 2012

A Significant Discovery

A Significant Discovery Jaquinot Bay, New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea Just before noon, the Mermaid…
March 5, 2012

Excellent Women

Excellent Women Rabaul, New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea Early this morning, on our way…
March 3, 2012

A (Cautionary) Tour of the Mermaid Sapphire

A (Cautionary) Tour of the Mermaid Sapphire Solomon Sea, south of New Britain Island On…
March 2, 2012

Preparing a “Great Whale”

Preparing a “Great Whale” Jacquinot Bay, New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea A sprawling gray…
March 1, 2012

Planning and Paddling

Planning and Paddling Jacquinot Bay, New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea For the ninth day…
February 29, 2012

Postdive Truths Revealed

Postdive Truths Revealed Jacquinot Bay, New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea The first 24-hour period…
February 28, 2012

A Critical Step

A Critical Step Jacquinot Bay, New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea Today, Jim spent six…
February 27, 2012

Keep on Truckin’

Keep on Truckin’ Jacquinot Bay, New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea Another test dive was…
February 26, 2012

Built for the Sea

Built for the Sea Jacquinot Bay, New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea Yesterday we got…
February 25, 2012

Visitors View the Sub

Visitors View the Sub Jacquinot Bay, New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea This morning, Captain…
February 24, 2012

Team Genius

Team Genius Jacquinot Bay, New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea After long, sun-hot days on…
February 23, 2012

We’ve Got a Deep-Diving Sub

We’ve Got a Deep-Diving Sub Jacquinot Bay, New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea Today Jim…
February 22, 2012

Camera Hell

Camera Hell Jacquinot Bay, New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea Yesterday, Jim tried to take…
February 21, 2012

Preparing for the First 1,000-Meter Dive

Preparing for the First 1,000-Meter Dive On board the Mermaid Sapphire in Jacquinot Bay, Papua New Guinea…
February 20, 2012

The Ring of Fire

The Ring of Fire On board the Mermaid Sapphire near Rabaul, Papua New Guinea “This is not…
February 19, 2012

The Best of Voyages

The Best of Voyages On board the Mermaid Sapphire on the Solomon Sea, 100 miles from Rabaul,…
February 16, 2012

50 Ways to Get Hurt

50 Ways to Get Hurt On board the Mermaid Sapphire steaming from Sydney, Australia, to Rabaul, Papua…
February 14, 2012

Hard Work and History

Hard Work and History On board the Mermaid Sapphire steaming from Sydney, Australia, to Rabaul, Papua New…
February 9, 2012

A No-Hitter

A No-Hitter On board the Mermaid Sapphire off Sydney, Australia “Mariners call this a confused sea,” Captain…
February 4, 2012

Men Down

Men Down “Abort the dive.” When I heard these words as I entered the sub…
February 2, 2012

Seasick on the Mermaid Sapphire

Seasick on the Mermaid Sapphire Last night we headed back to Jervis Bay—a ten-hour passage…
January 31, 2012

Jim Takes First Piloted Dive

Jim Takes First Piloted Dive The heat coming off the electronics system pushed the temperature…
January 31, 2012

Predive Preparations

Predive Preparations Sydney Harbour, Australia The team is getting better. Yesterday it took five hours…
January 26, 2012

DEEPSEA CHALLENGER Makes First “Dive”

DEEPSEA CHALLENGER Makes First “Dive” Sydney Harbour, Australia Last night, while the city slept, a…
January 24, 2012

Launch-and-Recovery Trials in Jervis Bay

Launch-and-Recovery Trials in Jervis Bay Jervis Bay, Australia From decades of exploring oceans, I know…
January 23, 2012

Don Walsh Visits the Expedition Team

Don Walsh Visits the Expedition Team Sydney, Australia “I expected to find pieces; I didn’t…
January 22, 2012

About Dr. Joe MacInnis

About Dr. Joe MacInnis Dr. Joe MacInnis is a physician-scientist, writer, and deep-sea explorer who…