Dolphins!

Today has been a day of amazing sights on the R/V Thomas G. Thompson! We were greeted this morning by glassy seas and dense fog wrapping the ship like a cocoon.

The fog began to burn away by mid-morning as the OOI crew completed their final recovery operation on this leg of the Endurance 17 mission. As the fog lifted it revealed a beautiful fogbow (it’s a rainbow but in fog!) arcing across the western sky.

However, the highlight of the day was the arrival of a huge pod of Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens)! Hundreds of dolphins roiled the sea around the ship all the way to the horizon as they jumped and played around the ship.

To little surprise, all work stopped on deck as everyone crowded the rails to watch and record the wonderous sight. Even those with long experience at sea were captivated by the experience.