Yesterday was our Sunday, so we got to sleep in and then play! Our work is going really well, so I think work stress and tensions are easing and we are being given some free time to explore this awesome place. Kamille arrived late because she replaced John when he was sent home with kidney stones. So she missed our fun dive out at Evans Wall. Well, this just wouldn't do! She had to go on the coolest dive in the world! So Jennifer and I volunteered to go out and be her dive buddies and this time we took a camera. It was an awesome day. We puttered out on the Tucker to Evans Wall, jumped in the water, and stared at a huge wall of ice and rocks for 45 minutes. It is such an awesome dive. Sadly for the camera, the sun was blocked by the glacier above, so we were diving in a shadow - making the dive a bit darker than it was when we were there over a month ago. So there are some spots in the video where the camera doesn't know what it is looking at - if it is all blue and hazy - that is an ice wall. You will get the idea once you watch the entire video (go here to watch:
http://picasaweb.google.com/111221596171793333099/AntarcticaUnderwater#5542097865579051250). We ended the day by stopping at the ice caves again because they are so beautiful. And the entire time, of course, Mt. Erebus was smoking and dominating the view.
Tomorrow we are going to Cape Royds to visit Shackleton's hut and hopefully see some penguins! Cross your fingers that the wildlife behaves. Speaking of birds, I love the skuas around here. When we are underwater we are surrounded by gorgeous living critters. But above the water, there isn't as much going on in terms of living organisms. Except for birds! And the skuas have arrived! These are a big gull with gorgeous markings on the wings. They love to eat and they appear to be very good predators (killing penguin chicks) and scavengers (eating anything dead around like seal pups, placentas, etc). I think they are totally cool birds.....
Skua!
Carnivorous sponge (the long white lines) at Evans Wall
Jennifer on the ice wall
Skua!
Carnivorous sponge (the long white lines) at Evans Wall
Jennifer on the ice wall
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