Mission Journal 12 — Roger Garcia: Mission Day 3: Wednesday, December 8th, 2004
Final day under pressure… Ironically, in some way we were under pressure to get several hours of diving in, using a hydro blaster on loan from the U.S. Navy. We intended to use it during yesterdays diving day but the 6 – 7 foot seas denied us that opportunity. However, due to somewhat better conditions topside today we would not be denied the hydro blaster. It’s a big toy for big boys so all were excited to see what this thing could do.
Divers splashed around 0810 and cleaned piping and valves until the blaster arrived. At approximately 1000 it was time to blast. IC2 Cox had first crack at the blaster and directed its force at our base plate to get a feel. MM1 Saulman blasted second, then MDV Grubbs and finally LCDR Ince. The hydro blaster had mixed reviews among the divers but Aquarius proved to be a fine platform for Beta testing.
I started briefing the divers and making some preparations for decompression shortly after divers staged in and diving was done. After all, today is the day we leave the bottom. Most divers that saturate in Aquarius have mixed feelings on decompression day. Some can’t wait to get out after 10 days, others would like to stay a day longer. With me, well… I suppose in some way she (Aquarius) reminds me of a song “One more day with you.” Every time I saturate I always want to stay one more day with her, but honestly… I’d be happiest staying with her for good.
A French engineer named Triger, invented a pressurized caisson in 1841 used to keep water out of coal mines. Coal miners worked inside this pressurized caisson all day long (7 – 10 hours). Many of the men that worked within the caisson had experienced a variety of symptoms ranging from joint pain to paralysis and in some cases death upon decompression from the mine. Triger once wrote “One only pays a price when leaving the pressurized caisson.” Speaking of the symptoms workers experienced when decompressed at the end of the work day. We left bottom at 1800 today, we are all willing to “pay the price” upon leaving the pressurized environment Triger wrote about. The price of developing a serious case of decompression sickness. I see it this way though… I’m paying a price for not spending “One more day” with her.