Howdy all,
Early this morning, we arrived at our way point at
26.086oN 95.8122oW. Visual observers were on duty by 12:00 UTC. Both
hydrophone arrays were deployed by 12:45 UTC. One whale blow was
reported by the visual team while the arrays were being deployed. The
two RHIBs were deployed by 14:15 UTC.
They extended the area in which we searched for
sperm whales. We headed roughly northeast to survey along the northwest
edge of the cyclone, but no other whales were seen or heard. Other life,
however, was seen during the day. From the flying bridge and RHIBs, sea
birds of several types were seen feeding on a school of fish. RHIB boat
personnel spotted a whale shark, and some video of it was taken from
RHIB-1 (Figure). Photographs also were taken of barnacles growing on
floating debris that also provided shelter to a small fish (Figure).
About 19:00 UTC, the RHIBs were recovered because the seas were kicking
up. The 3-D hydrophone array was pulled in for maintenance about 20:30.
The 38 kHz ADCP was operational all day, with currents indicating we
mainly were on the northwest side of the cyclone. Our position at 01:15
UTC is approximately 27 14.7'N 95 32.7'W.
