The daily routine
It’s been several weeks since the mission began and everybody is now used to the daily routine onboard the ship.
On days when the Nautile is in operation, technicians and engineers are busy working on the sub's instruments for final adjustments before departure whilst the others are generally around the Nautile encouraging and wishing the diver of the day a safe and excellent dive.
The rest of the morning and early afternoon, the others return to the work in hand which depends on the operations of the previous day: fluid analyses for some, data processing for the multibeam sounder or rock cutting for others. The chief scientists pursue meetings to discuss the results and prepare the next operations.
At 15h00 sharp there is a general meeting for everyone. Ewan and Cécile provide an update on the operations of the previous day and any results as well news on the dive in progress, and the operations to come.
Around 18h00, the Nautile returns, and part of the team meets the diver out of the sub. Fluid samples are recovered and instruments (CHEMINI and PIF) are cleaned and prepared for next day’s dive. The rock team waits patiently for the diver to collect the samples in the order in which they were collected.
The day is not however over: operations can still be launched after the return of the Nautile, either Ulyx can dive for the night, or the CTD can be deployed or a dredge can be launched. Often around 21h00 the diver of the day provides the team with a short debrief of his dive.