TRAINING DAY 10: LAST BEFORE SPLASHDOWN

It's hard to comprehend all that's happened in the last two weeks. It's been a whirlwind of adventure, meeting new people, learning, and jumping (literally) out of my comfort zone. I can't believe how time has flown by; already, we're done with training! 

Today we dove for a little over an hour, getting in final practice with the full face masks and the double tanks. We also did an underwater photo shoot with the ultra-high definition RED camera, for Fabien's documentary film. The RED camera has revolutionized photography with a sensor that has more than 5 times the number of pixels of the very best HD camera. RED: The Camera that Changed Hollywood. 

Our final debriefing was sentimental. Roger, chief of Aquarius operations, told us more people have gone into space than have lived underwater, so what we're doing is very special. We have now a unique opportunity to bring ocean science and public awareness to a new level. It's tremendously exciting! Fabien said it only hit him yesterday that this was finally real, really happening. At last, there's no turning back! 

In the afternoon, a research team from the Florida Institute of Technology (FIU) showed us how to use their sonar imaging system. This system will help record and monitor fish, and our FIU researchers will use the system to record fish behavior in response to predators. 

Splashdown is in 48 hours!  Tonight we'll celebrate, somehow. 

Learning to use imaging sonar we'll use undersea for M31 scientific research.

Fabien Cousteau playing with the imaging sonar. Photo credit Marc Ostrick.

"The sea, the great unifier, is man's only hope. Now, as never before, the old phrase has a literal meaning: We are all in the same boat."
 --- Jacques Cousteau

The World's Only Undersea Lab, Aquarius. Mission 31 made the news this morning! Check out the video on the Weather Channel by clicking the image above.

There's no turning back! Splashdown in 48 hours. We have great research planned that only Aquarius can host as the world’s sole operating undersea research laboratory. It's a critical time in history to understand and protect our oceans.