The second day of production started very early for some of the crew, needing to board the R/V Suncoaster for a midnight departure from the USF/CMS dock. Bunking four to a room, they tried to get some shut-eye on the transit out of Tampa Bay in order to get offshore and arrive on station to service buoys starting at dawn. Their morning started with a quick breakfast and then attended a meeting on the operational procedures. One of the cameramen commented that it sure was a “manly boat” after hearing the potential hazards to avoid during a safety briefing.
Meanwhile I joined another EISF crew mobilizing at dawn to transfer camera gear and dive equipment onto the R/V Fish Hawk. The vessel master, Andy Farmer, efficiently directed load-out. While informing us on safety procedures, he indicated we would have the honor of being on the 2nd cruise of this newly acquired USF/CMS research vessel. Chad Lembke, mechanical engineer from the USF Center of Ocean Technology, was loading two Bottomed Stationed Ocean Profiler (BSOP) units he developed.
The R/V Fish Hawk transited out to USF/CMS’s instrumented Buoy C15, which is located offshore of Sarasota. Dr. Robert Weisberg, USF/CMS Physical Oceanography Staff, is in charge of a series of these buoys outfitted with sensors for determining ocean circulation in the Gulf. We found a Mote Marine Lab boat moored with divers in process of switching out a BreveBuster sensor. EISF’s underwater cameraman immediately dove in to capture the procedure before they finished. After anchoring, Chad Lembke deployed the BSOP off the stern while explaining its programmed operation.
EISF cameraman took underwater video of the BSOP diving and surfacing in the clear blue water. We lucked out on weather that morning, with calm seas and good visibility. One diver reported there was a school of colorful fish below the buoy, so we towed the BSOP over to that area for good background scenery when it touched down on the seafloor. Chad told us about one of their more interesting retrievals, where an octopus jumped out of the top dome right at face level when getting the BSOP back on deck.
That afternoon the R/V Suncoaster rendezvoused with us so that EISF could film the Buoy C15 replacement. It was quite a show, watching Rick Cole direct the complicated sequence of events occurring on the aft deck. First they launched an instrumented subsea platform close to Buoy C15, then backed up in reverse to retrieve the buoy with the A-frame. Waves slapped over the flat stern as seas picked up with an approaching storm.
Several brave crewmen, including Rick Cole, jumped onto the bucking buoy to attach lines, and then install some sensors when the new one was deployed. The two captains decided to try a live boat transfer of an EISF cameraman, which was risky with the vessels moving differently in the waves. All hands were on deck watching the line handling and applauded the smooth transfer. As Andy skillfully maneuvered the Fish Hawk away, we had a laugh as he shouted out his disappointment when finding out the Suncoaster forgot to pass over some ice cream they promised.
Unfortunately with a thunderstorm approaching, the R/V Fish Hawk needed to depart before the divers from both vessels got a chance to film each other in action underwater for some behind-the-scenes video. The new vessel was fast, but the storm front was moving quickly in the same direction towards Tampa Bay. Luckily we won the race and were welcomed with a full rainbow arching right between the spans of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge as we entered the bay. The Suncoaster crew got to witness a waterspout spawned by the storm.
The University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science campus was still lit up with the setting sun’s rays prior to the storm darkening the sky. While we made it to dock in time for dinner, the R/V Suncoaster did not make it back until 11:00 that night.
Editor's Note: EISF would like to extend special thanks to Rick Cole, Jay Law, John Ogden, Randy Maxson, Chris Schwint, Andy Farmer, Jim Patten, Bill Dent, and Ben Meister for their efforts in committing the time and resources in coordinating the vessel logistics for this production and getting EISF cameramen cleared to dive from the USF/CMS research vessels.
Submitted by Dan Powell, EISF Director of Marine Operations
