R/V Sally Ride is currently home to the scientists from CalCOFI’s teams from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and NOAA. It’s their fourth time aboard, and CTD casts, net tows, and marine mammal observations are underway as usual. Today, however, was far from a normal day. Science operations were briefly paused in order to allow the ship’s crew to recover a … Read More
Geology of the Ocean Floor
R/V Sally Ride is doing work out of her first foreign port – Manzanillo, Mexico. The ship arrived after a recent cruise and stayed for a well-deserved few days of rest and relaxation for the crew, as well as resupplying food, and fuel. A new science party came aboard, and the ship headed off again for a month-long trip that … Read More
Bioluminescence
The last few days, the San Diego coastline has put on a gorgeous light show. Tiny creatures called dinoflagellates have shown up in droves. During the day, the ocean turns the color of red wine as they congregate near the surface. But at night, they bioluminesce, flashing bright turquoise whenever they’re disturbed. Every wave crashes with color, as does every … Read More
Sally Ride to the Rescue
Today was a big day for R/V Sally Ride, as the ship and her crew carried out a Coast Guard-coordinated mission to assist a catamaran in distress. A report from Third Mate Randy: “We received a call from the Coast Guard two nights ago, asking if we could render assistance [to] a dismasted catamaran out of Papeete, Tahiti, bound for … Read More
Commissioned Art on the Ship
Living and working aboard R/V Sally Ride involves a lot of transiting through hallways and stairwells to get between labs, staterooms, the lounge, the galley, etc. One could be forgiven for not noticing the beautiful piece of artwork in the main stairwell, but it would be a shame. Commissioned by Sally Ride herself, artist Adam Koltz created a masterpiece in his … Read More
She is with us
“Most scientists that I know are passionate people because they’re working in a field that they’re interested in. And the environment you work in is important. So if you’re on an expedition in the high seas and you’re on a ship like this that is comfortable, that is gorgeous but functional in a very beautiful way…it just facilitates the good … Read More
Crew Introductions: Electrician
“Sometimes it feels weird to be home. And when I get back to the ship, it just feels normal again. I really do enjoy going out to sea. I used to get homesick, but I’m glad I stuck it out. I actually found a job I enjoy.” Adam Goodbody has always had the skills and inclination to be an electrician, … Read More
Crew Introductions: Oiler
“I like the people at Scripps. It’s a tight knit family, which makes everything much more enjoyable, especially when you’re living here for two-thirds of your life, maybe more.” Willie Brown has been working in the engineering department of Scripps research vessels for 13 years. His dad worked with Captain Tom, master of R/V Sally Ride, and it was through that … Read More
Week 3 Report from FLIP
**Guest blogger Randy Christian is a crew member on R/V Sally Ride, but this month is working on FLIP, Scripps’ FLoating Instrument Platform. FLIP is deployed on a project offshore of Southern California, accompanied by other members of the SIO fleet, R/V Sproul and R/V Sally Ride. You can learn more about Randy in this blog post introducing him as second mate, though he sometimes sails as third mate, and read … Read More
Crew Introductions: Senior Cook
“I have traveled all over the world. I get to work with a lot of interesting people. It’s what I do, it’s not only work for me, it’s part of my life.” Mark Smith has been a cook at UC San Diego for 22 years, first in a dining hall on the main campus and then onboard SIO’s research vessels. … Read More