Me at Work

Me by the CTD (conductivity, temperature, and depth). We usually send it down to about 500m. It collects data on the way down and up about the water column (such as dissolved O2, Temperature, Salinity, pH, Fluorescence). Also, I can choose when to 'fire' the bottles you see, and collect water samples at certain depths, and then prep them to be processed for nutrient and chlorophyll information once back in Honolulu. Getting this thing in and out of the water from/to the deck can be a challenge-especially in heavy seas-and I work with awesome guys from the deck dept. to make it happen. I am still learning good technique! Sometimes it goes perfectly and sometimes, ah well, not so smooth. Oh-and that contraption I am wearing is a harness so I don't fall in during deployment/recovery. I am hooked into the deck. I feel like one of those kids on leash at the boardwalk.

Fish On

Here you can see Gaetano holding what we ate for dinner last night. We had three "fish on"yesterday. All Ono. Last night's was macadamia nut encrusted. Just about as fresh as it gets!

My boss, Lt. Kyle Ryan

Sonar

Here is a shot of one of my jobs on the ship-Ens. Vejar took this of my computer screen. This is the map we created using our multibeam systems of a drowned atoll south of Tutuila, American Samoa. Last night we went back and I filled on the 'holes' (called holidays) from the first three nights of mapping.

Ship Life

The mighty Hi'ialakai, my lovely home. 

And this is what my room looks like after riding through a typhoon.  No, the chair is not supposed to be in front of the sink.  

seriously...we have a ship band! And-they are awesome! The best part is they like to practice right next to where I do CTDs, and when I do them, so sometimes I get live music at work. 3rd mate on bass, AB on lead, Chief Engineer on Drums.