Location: Mallorca
My morning started with some very polite wake-up calls to my lovely shipmates on Argo and continued with some scrumptious breakfast prepared by Head Chef Bryson and his sous chef. After being brought back to life by some delicious blueberry bread and fruit, we proceeded to clean up the dishes, and I had the opportunity to bless the cleaning crews ears with my favorite Italian artist, Fabrizio de Andres. It’s safe to say that my music taste was greatly appreciated. Some people were even moved to tears (although it might have been some splashes from the cleaning pits).
After breakfast, we were divided into groups to build a BRUV, a special bait camera set up that stands on the bottom of the sea to capture marine life. My group (Olivia, Teo, Teagan, Sabrina, Jem, and Emily) absolutely crushed the whole lab!!! Up until we brought the camera back up after 30 minutes, and we found out that there was no video recording Thats the beauty of fieldwork, I guess, life on Argo is full of unexpected moments. In the afternoon after some delicious lunch me and my dive group (Adain, Teagan, O., and Hailey) embarked on ouyr first official dive as certifieds and safe to say it did not disappoint, we saw lots of fish like Rainbow Wrasses and Painted combers and some echinoderms like starfish and sea urchins but most importantly than all we saw not one, not two, not three bu four octopi hiding in their respective dens, safe to say it was the highlight of the day and one of the many incredible moments I experienced during seamester.
Right after the dive, it was finally time for my favorite activity (and the one I am best at), a good net nap, preceded of course by a good swim and a chill music session with my good friends Olivia, Emily, Hailey, Sabrina, Sam, and Maria, the music was fire but not as good as mine of course. Straight after the nap I was blessed by a truly marvelous sight, around fifteen people fully geared up for diving shouting PIZZAAA while acting like they were drowning in the sea, for a moment I thought I was having another one of those strange dreams of mine but then I found out that it was just the rescue divers group practicing one of their skills for their certification, the whole scene was so amusing that I was almost sad that we do not have popcorn on board.
The day ended with yet another incredible meal cooked by the chef crew of the day and with my squeeze question What was something that turned out completely different from your expectations about life on Argo?, the answers were of course very different from person to person but I was positively impressed that the most common was by far how much easier it was to get along with everyone else, something I completely agree with since I feel we quickly became a big family (staff included).
And thus day 24 comes to an end, and so do my duties as skipper. I really enjoyed my job, and more than anything else, I enjoyed taking photos with everyone.
For my family and friends who might be reading this log, I send lots of hugs and kisses, and I send a special hug to my dog. I love you and miss you, buddy.
P.S. If you, dear readers, are wondering what the title of this blog means, go and ask one of the participants; I am sure they will be delighted to explain it to you.