This is our series of supplemental logs that were taken from our scientific research expedition to RMS Titanic last month. I hope that you enjoy!
Everyone is excited for the first dive of our expedition down to Titanic. MIR divers are to report to the MIR Dive Control Center at 8 am where Anatoly Sagalevitch runs through a briefing on the dive plan and introduces key members of his submersible team to the divers. The final step at this meeting is the official signing of the MIR logs. The two MIR departures are staggered approximately 30 minutes apart with MIR I going first at 9:45 am followed by MIR II.
Everyone on the expedition cheers the aquanauts as they climb into the MIR submersibles. The divers in MIR I, diving with Anatoly Sagalevitch, are Fran Capo of the United States and Masayo Goto from Japan. Fran is a very bubbly individual from Long Island and is the official "fastest talker in the world". Fran writes adventure books and there is no doubt that diving to Titanic is the Ultimate Adventure. Joining Fran will be Masayo and she will become the first person from Japan to ever dive the Titanic. Because of her achievement, everyone affectionately named her "Number One". MIR II divers will be piloted by Genya Cherniev and they include Jay and Christina Merten, a wonderful father-daughter team. Jay is a physician (MD) and specializes in ophthalmology. Additionally he is an avid pilot and sailor who lives outside of Dallas, Texas. Jay's daughter, Christina, is an artificial intelligence expert and lives in British Columbia.
While the dives are submerged on Titanic, normal ship life goes on with lectures/presentations, tours to the MIR labs, design of styrofoam cups and general rest. I will be presenting Nautical Research Group's presentation Titanic - The Ultimate Shipwreck to the expedition team that includes a virtual dive to Titanic in the MIR submesibles. This will give expedition divers the feeling for what to see and do in the MIRs and make their own dive more enjoyable.
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