We started the day early with another successful round of live-video-links to the UK to talk to school pupils and the Nature Live audience in the Attenborough Studio.
Above: Adrian speaks to students back in the UK
(Click images to see them full size)
With the weather improving everyday, we got the news we'd been waiting for yesterday - that we could finally head out to sea and look for the experiments that were laid down six months ago. We left port full of hope for the day ahead and with a large supply of seasickness tablets.
It took nearly an hour to get out to the first site and there was a lot of waiting around but once REX hit the water, the excitement set in. I couldn’t believe I was getting just as excited about finding these whale bones as the scientists were. Would we find the first package and would we find Osedax?
It wasn’t long before we found the package however it wasn’t exactly how we left it…
When the remains of the basket were pulled aboard we saw that there were no whale bones left, let alone Osedax. I had no idea that whale bones were that attractive to sharks but the shark bite marks on the plastic basket were conclusive evidence!
Although everyone was a little disapppointed that the experiment had been lost they quickly started working on the other creatures found living on the basket. They found many different polychaetes and as I type they are still analysing them under the microscope.
Above: Helena and Diva inspecting the remains of the experiment for any life
As we moved on to the 2nd site many in the team were left wondering, what state would the next experiment be in?!
Adrian did a great job of piloting the ROV and we found the second package in a relatively short period of time. But REX delivered some more bad news…
We were asked today by a student during our live video link if Jaws could happen. Well, I suppose if you’re a plastic basket it most certainly can!
We're heading out tomorrow to look for the third package which is deeper down at 55 metres. Will it be sharks - 3, scientists - 0?
And don't forget you can speak to Helena and Diva live in the Bahamas today at 2.30pm in the Attenborough Studio.
