Getting the computer into the station

Setting up a remote office here for Bill and me involves a little unusual circumstances. Let me try to explain from my un-techie perspective and I'll try to get Bill to find the time to give you the "real" side.

In order to send out a video signal over the Internet (and we plan almost one per day during the mission) we need to receive and encode video from 20 feet under the water. Now, even while the station was at the pier here at the MRDF, the entrance to the station was still 2 to 3 feet underwater, so the immediate problem was how to keep the equipment dry and get it into the station. Below, the pictures kind of tell the tale:

The small computer that sits in the dock fit into the "dry box" but oops, it's not protected and we can't risk that!

First it needs to be covered in plastic just in case there's a leak. While Claudia wraps the computer in plastic, Chris checks the dry box for air bubbles.

Under the watchful eye of Commander Dennis, Bill gets his first visit into the Station. He made it! You can see him drying off in the wet room right behind our mascot, Garfield.

Now for the BIG part: Wrapped in 15 layers of plastic, the outside layer, a special diving bag, the docking station (on which the computer will sit) is taken into the Station by diving veteran, Chris. Bill gives us the high sign - he got it!

No more time for work today.
Bill is so concerned about remembering
to blow bubbles on his way up
that he wore his glasses instead of his goggles.

Oh well, tomorrow is our resort training so we can actually DIVE (under the watchful eye of an instructor). Tomorrow also the Station will be sunk to the bottom of the lagoon, so free diving will not be an available option.

More on that tomorrow!