On Friday, we manage to get back into the water and make our dives, but the sea was still rather choppy, and the large, lingering swells made the boat ride to the site rather uncomfortable for several on the team who are susceptible to sea sickness. Conditions improved immensely on Saturday. The morning sun was a pastel orange ball seemingly nestled into the top of a blue-gray bank of clouds that sat on the horizon. The wind was reduced to a slight breeze blowing from the northeast and the sea was calm, with only remnant rolling swells from the preceding days now lazily making their way to shore. At mid-day, the current and wind shifted to the south and our vessels floated directly over the Bajo, just off the site, which allowed us to make our safety stop in the shallow, sun-drenched waters on top of the Bajo and enjoy the plethora of sea life that thrives there. It was such a pleasant day of diving, in contrast to the previous week, and the team’s mood was much improved.
Between Friday and Saturday, the team completed the final site prep work. The grid was secured and measured in, the last of the datum points and towers were set, anchored down, and mapped, and our five airlifts were tied down and hooked up. On Monday, finally, after what has seemed like an eternity, we will start airlifting and excavating!
VIDEO: Installing airlifts and excavating (Bajo de la Campana July 2011) – Kiko and Arianna position the airlift pipes where they will be needed and attach their air supply hoses (once they succeed in untangle them!). Finally, Arianna and the rest of the team are able to enjoy the fruits of their labor and start excavating.
Follow the sun: heading to the site–and the rising sun–on a placid sea in the early morn (photo by S. Snowden).