Mission Journal 11 — Brian Saulman: Mission 1, Day 2: Tuesday, December 7th, 2004
We started the morning by getting the equipment ready for the dives for the day. We commenced diving and could tell it was pretty rough topside because of my ear drums heaving in and out. I felt bad for my brothers that were up there today. The first set of divers experienced a little difficulty with the job earlier in the morning because of the current, but they made progress, and it was my turn to dive right after we ate lunch. We had to finish the job with the 3D laser and then try a cavitating hydroblaster for cleaning on the habitat, so I had to really focus on what I was doing. I thoroughly enjoyed when topside had to scan and process their laser info, because I did a lot of googly-eyeing during that time and found myself sneaking to the bottom flipping over a rock or two to see if something was there.
About thirty minutes to an hour passed and my dive buddy had one of his fins swept away by the current (he had taken them off so he could work better on the wet porch). We then got the word that the hydroblaster wasn’t going to make it down because of the rough seas for the second support boat with the deck equipment. DARN! I don’t want to sound bad, but that was an answered prayer for me! The guys then handed us some scrapers and wire brushes, so we scraped for a few minutes, but my buddy needed to search for his fin. SLACK ON RED! I don’t think I missed an inch while scanning the bottom and surrounding area. I eventually made it to the reef, and I just stood and watched the many different, colorful, tropical fish, and looked in every nook, cranny and hole I came across. It was breathtaking to see all the beautiful and odd shaped creatures God created. I just wish I could explain the feeling I had while I was doing my exploring, hoping to see a shark during my time on the bottom (a small one and at a comfortable distance of course). We previously watched a couple of nurse sharks from out of the view ports the night before, but none while blowing bubbles.
Three hours and forty minutes of bottom time; yeah, that’s a very pleasing start and I wanted more. We completed the diving for the day and as soon as I got cleaned up I went to the bunkroom and peered out the view port. I spotted an enormous shark. I’m pretty sure it was a bull shark and it was without a doubt no less than 7 feet long. If I would have seen that cruise over me, I would have probably balled up in the fetal position and wined like a baby. Cox and Mr. Ince got to catch a glance at it also, and we started making plans for a night dive after dinner with a one hour bottom time for more exploring. Another meal and some relaxing and I am still stuck in the view port waiting for our night excursion. I was thinking back in awe of all that I had witnessed that dive and the total blessing it was to experience it. Cox and I were first to do the night excursion. I got to see many other creatures on the reef that you don’t get to see during the day. I also got to swim alongside a 50 pound goliath grouper, another dive that was absolutely amazing. Hopefully I’ll get some good rest tonight because I’m beat.