Bay of Biscay 2008 Expedition: On-board Diary
Callejos de Bamboa seamount ans Saltacaballos point
Author: Ana de la Torriente
Date: July 14, 2008
Finally, the ROV technicians couldn’t solve the problem and decided the best option was to take it to Barcelona, because it would be easier to solve technical problems there. Joan and Manuel left with the ROV and we continued our work with the divers in shallow waters.
We started the day with a dive off the Callejos de Bamboa seamount atop large blocks of rock on a sandy-muddy seabed.
Read More...Cotonera island and the whale of Sonabia revisited
Author: Ana de la Torriente
Date: July 13, 2008
We returned to Sonabia in order to document the sea floors in that area. We carried out the first dive off Cotonera Island, in front of Islares, where there are various rock formations atop a sandy seabed. The top part of the rock formations was covered in Cystoseira algae and we found other species on the rocky walls, including Berthella sp., Echinaster sepositus, Hypselodoris tricolor and Alcyonium glomeratum.
Read More...The mouth of the Oriñón estuary
Author: Ana de la Torriente
Date: July 12, 2008
In the morning, we return to the mouth of the Oriñón estuary to dive, once off the whale of Sonabia and then again off the Cercadas Islands.
For the first dive, we return to the underwater passageways of the Whale, where some rocks are 6 meters high and many of them are covered with red calcareous algae.
Read More...Eastern coast of Cantabria, Buitrera coast and the whale of Sonabia point
Author: Ana de la Torriente
Date: July 11, 2008
We say goodbye to Santander under cloudy skies and set sail towards our next port, Castro Urdiales.
During the first dive, off the Morcejonera rock in front of Ris beach, the flat seabed was comprised of sand and small rocks. The rocky area was covered with Cystoseira algae. We also spot some areas covered with Gelidium algae.
On the overhangs, we find different species of sponges and the sea urchin, Paracentrotus lividus. Amongst the fish species, there were conger eels (Conger conger) and Ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta).
Read More...Sperm Whale dead 1.70 nautical miles from shore
Author: Ana de la Torriente
Date: July 10, 2008
We took advantage of the lack of wind and calm day and made two dives near the shore.
In the first dive, at Bajo El Doble or Ganzanilla off De Berria beach, we found a sea bottom with rocks at different elevations and overhangs where the great majority of the rock is covered by some calcareous reds.
Read More...Cabezo la Vaca y Cabo Quejo
Author: Ana de la Torriente
Date: July 9, 2008
Finally the sea offered us a beautiful calm day, so we planned two dives with deep-sea divers, un under Cabezo la Vaca and the other at Cabo Quejo.
Read More...Bahía de Santander. Isla de la Torre
Author: Ana de la Torriente
Date: July 8, 2008
After two days waiting in Santander without having been able to dive at all, everyone on board is anxious to dive and document the sea bottom. However, working conditions outside the bay continue to be unsuitable.
Read More...Grey Seal in Santander Bay
Author: Ana de la Torriente
Date: July 7, 2008
Joan and Manuel continue working to solve the ROV’s problems, but for now, we still can’t document deep seabeds.
Since the weather conditions outside the bay do not allow the divers to work, we stay in port and carry out some maintenance work on the equipment.
Pablo López, a biologist who works in the Santander Marine Museum, let us know that a grey seal (Halichoerus gripus) had entered the bay and was resting on a ramp at the Marina del Cantábrico, so we took the small boat and headed over to the port to photograph and document it.
Read More...July 6, 2008
Author: Ana de la Torriente
Date: July 6, 2008
We set sail at 8:20 from Santander in search of the seamounts near the city in order to dive and document the seabeds, although the sky was clouded over and the wind was causing some waves.
We’ve had problems with the ROV and we’re waiting for some spare parts to arrive from Barcelona. So, the work for today was planned for the divers only.
Read More...The Seamounts of Cantabria: La Maruca and El Castro
Author: Ana de la Torriente
Date: July 5, 2008
Although the morning was completely clouded over, with winds from the N-NW, we carried out two dives with the ROV at two seamounts off the Galizano coast: La Maruca and El Castro seamounts, areas where artisanal fisheries have traditionally operated.
Read More...
