Journals 2007/2008

Mark Harris
Layton High School, Layton, UT

"Antarctic Crabeater Seal Tagging and Icefish Adaptation Studies Research Vessel Laurence M. Gould" May 9, 2007 - June 6, 2007

Journal Index: May 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16        17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24        25 - 26 - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 Research Experience Video Additional Resources

May 12, 2007
Sailing On

I am on my way to Antarctica. We are going through the Straits of Magellan for the next 18 hours and then 2 days through the Drake Passage. So far the Straits of Magellan have been very calm.

Most of the day was spent doing safety drills and ship orientation. Man overboard, fire, and abandon ship drills. The importance of safety on these ships is stressed over and over. You actually have an air of confidence when knowing you are in good hands.

The highlight of the day was around sunset in perfectly calm waters, a pod of Commerson's dolphins came over to the ship to bow ride. These perfectly formed and extremely beautiful dolphins will ride on the pressure wave of the ship. They play and surf like little boys at the beach. I love watching them run to the ship.

I had the incredible experience to see spinner dolphins, spotted dolphins, common dolphins, and bottlenose dolphins in the Eastern Tropical Pacific last summer with the STAR Cruise. I can honestly say these little Commerson dolphins have to be the cutest dolphins I have ever seen. The little calves look like you could tuck them under your arm and take them home with you as a pet. What cool animals - I like being at sea!

Commerson dolphins (Photo: D.P. Costa)