Dr. Deborah Epperson
Protected Species Biologist and SWSS Acoustics Team
Biological Sciences Section
Gulf of Mexico Region
Minerals Management Service
New Orleans, Louisiana

Figure 1

When you tell your friends and family that you are going to be gone for a month tagging sperm whales in the Gulf of Mexico, their first reaction is surprise. Then the questions begin: Do we really have sperm whales in the Gulf? What’s it like on the boat? What will you be doing? And the list goes on. I have tried to describe the scientists and the different components of SWSS, but now let me tell you about the day to day living aboard the Gyre. While the dimensions of the R/V Gyre sound roomy at 185’, when you pack 9 crew and 23 scientists, science gear, personal gear, tagging boats, and everything else on board it begins to feel less spacious. Once on board, you catch up with old friends and quickly begin to make some new ones (photo at left)). Within a few days you have learned more about the people around you than ever imagined, and everyone begins to fall into a working routine. Everyone on the ship is working towards the same goal and you feel like a valued part of the team.

Figure 2

Days begin to fade into each other and you really have very little sense of time. When you are not working you try to catch some sleep in your small bunk (see photo at right), which can prove to be a challenge in rough seas. Meal times are set with 3 squares a day and best of all no dishes to wash (except for the galley hand)! However, the galley seats 8, and 32 people need to eat within the hour mealtime. Lingering over your meal is definitely not appreciated! When the meal is over there is always ice cream. The Gyre is known for having an unlimited supply of ice cream and everyone succumbs at some point during the cruise.

Figure 3

Figure 4

The big treat of the day is email. There is one computer with an email setup and it is definitely a popular place. The receipt of any news from friends and family certainly puts smiles on our faces (Figure 3)! So when you aren’t working, sleeping, or eating what do you do with your time? Reading, watching movies and DVDs, and playing cards (Figure 4) are just a few of the ways to pass the time. This year one scientist stitched rice stuffed sperm whales for everyone to take home (Figure 5). Others work on data, publications, or try to keep up with all the work they left onshore.

So here we are, steaming towards Galveston, another successful cruise almost complete. Tired, excited, happy to be going home, sad to be going home, all these emotions run through our minds. I think I speak for all the scientists and crew when I say that we feel privileged to have been involved in SWSS. Thanks everyone, I hope to cruise with you again.