February 18, 2004
Wolfgang Bach (left) and Maurice Tivey prepare for their dive, #3975. It was Wolfgang's first dive in Alvin today. In right photo, Captain George Silva and Chief Engineer, Chris Morgan, survey the scene on Atlantis' decks from the Bridge wing.
Gavin Eppard assisting with the Alvin launch today, photographed by Bruce
Strickrott, the pilot.
Wolfgang in the starboard seat in Alvin today. Right photo shows some older lobate lava flows west of the EPR axis near 9° 28'N that were mapped and sampled today.
Today's dive discovered an interesting site of hydrothermal venting in the western trough near 9° 28'N. This trough lies about 600 m west of the axial trough, the site of most recent volcanic and hydrothermal activity on the EPR crest. The small tube worms (Tevnia) were seen growing along the east wall of the trough where the volcanic rocks were heavily stained with hydrothermal mineralization. Some samples of the rock were recovered but the animals were left for subsequent biologically oriented cruises to sample and study as they were out of power by the time they reached this site.
Wolfgang takes his "first-dive baptism" of icy sea water sitting down. He was ducktaped to the chair by Cara Santelli... we're not sure what is going on but Wolfgang obviously loves it!