Expedition log by Science Communication Fellow Marike Pinsonneault

Life at sea aboard R/V David Packard has been both challenging and rewarding. The weather hasn’t always cooperated—winds pushed us away from our original dive site early on—but the relocation opened the door to new mapping opportunities and unexpected discoveries.

Working hours onboard are very long for the science crew and around the clock for ship operations. 

The MiniROV “van”—a portable control room inside a repurposed shipping container—serves as a second home for the science team. Expedition scientists, engineers, and pilots spend much of their day here, navigating, coding, and observing data in real time. Every few hours, team members rotate through the van, giving everyone a chance to grab some fresh air, sunshine on the ship’s panoramic decks, squeeze in a nap, or work out in the gym. 

After mapping missions, the science team and the ship’s crew gather in the mess to review updates, trade stories, and share laughs—all while Chef Doug turns out a variety of delicious cuisines and stocks the pantry with all of our favorite sweet treats.

As we head into the final stretch of the expedition, these shared moments of life at sea have made for an experience as rich as the seafloor we came to explore.