It took some time but here is my #Alvin dive update from #GalapagosDeep2023... short version-it was epic!! An hr to go....I describe this stage as mildly bricking it...giddy. 1/

Me a dive and my dive buddy, Darin Schwartz @BoiseState, with 5 mins to go....my grin gets wider 2/

And then we are off. This light blue of the shallow waters quickly fades to black. We descend to 500m before the seafloor comes into view.

There isn't much space in there for three people, especially gangly ones. Its crowded and we all change positions regularly as various limbs start to numb. Tbh it doesn't really register as my entire focus is on the world outside the window. ...3/

And to my joy there is #coral. Lots of lovely Madrepora and Desmophyllum for @BOPP_GeoChem! 4/

And even some vertebrates for those that are that way inclined ;) This is a jellynose (great name) There were 8 of them hanging around, slightly needy but cute- the labradors of the #deepsea. 5/

And 7 glorious hrs pass. It feels like 2, max. Together with our collection of sediment, water, rocks and coral we head to the surface and are lifted out of the waters of Galapagos Marine Reserve as the sunsets 6/6 #pinchme #sciencehigh #coralmad

@EssexLifeSci @BOPP_GeoChem @WHOI @darwinfound @parquegalapagos @inocarec @BoiseState @NSF @NERCscience @BugSalome @smitchell_sci @ResearchEssex @DSBSoc

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