Jason’s first dive

The Jason II team lowers the remotely operated research vehicle into Alaska waters, just southwest of Amlia Island Sunday evening. The dive was the first of the research cruise, led by NOAA-Fisheries/Auke Bay Laboratory researchers seeking to learn more about Alaska’s deep-sea corals. Photo courtesy of Gene Yogodzinski.

Location: Near Amlia Island

Posted 07.26.04 at 5:05 am

Jason 2 made its first dive today in calm waters and under an uncharacteristically clear sky. The device was lowered into the water by crane, and is then controlled by a pilot in a control “van” aboard the ship. Fishery biologist Bob Stone of NOAA-Fisheries led the pilot in obtaining the cruise’s first coral samples shortly after the vehicle touched bottom, at a depth greater than 2000 meters. Details to come.