Wednesday, February 16, 2005...

Every fifth Alvin dive is designated as a “pilot-in-training” dive, during which a person who is training to be an Alvin pilot (which takes years) dives with an experienced pilot and one science observer. Today, scientist Steve Hurst dove with pilot Bruce Strickrott and pilot-in-training Noel Masias. After the dive, the whole ship had a cookout on the fantail to celebrate reaching the half-way point of the cruise (see photos). The ship is normally “dry” (no alcohol), but the captain permitted a limited amount of beer or wine during the cookout.