Bio box

Alas! This morning we went into the ocean with great anticipation and excitement. We found the wall again, and then somehow lost it, then found it again (which took approximately 3 hours). Then we were finally ready to start collecting. We found a huge bamboo coral, snipped it and started moving it into the bio box. So, the way the ROV is set up, the camera, arm and lights are in the front. Under the camera is a large white box that slides forwards to open. This is where the specimens are stored. We clipped off quite a big piece of coral that was awkward to get in the box. It was precariously balanced on the top. They tried to use the arm to hit it down into the box, but still a large branch was hanging off and threatening to fall. So after struggling for about a half an hour, the ROV driver was able to magically maneuver the thrusters in such a way to dance the coral into the box--we were thrilled! As they began to slide the bio box back into place though, it started to slowly move in the opposite direction--away from the ROV rather than under it. All of the sudden, the bio box was off!! Detached!! Floating in the abyss!! The coral was gone. No one could believe it. What a surreal moment. Thankfully the ROV operators kept their heads and somehow grabbed it with the arm. Then, we spent the next hour in extreme butt clench mode hoping it wouldn't drop while we brought the ROV to the surface.

So, that's it for today. We'll go out again tomorrow to the same spot, but I'm beginning to wonder about it... Hopefully third time is a charm, other wise, maybe this magnificent wall of beauty is cursed. Maybe it is home to Cthulhu who are trying to sabotage us! But the Bahamas might be a little to warm for them...