The technical deep diving operations have been occurring during the morning. We start early with the divers getting their gear together and checking the gas mixtures and pressures in each of their cylinders. As the dive gear weighs 150+ pounds, we use hand trucks to haul it around on the deck. Once on site, one of the ship's small boats is deployed and the boat crew find the depth contour (170 feet) and mark it with a red buoy. The technical dive pair then suit up and prepare to dive. It takes a small group of people to hold the divers steady on the rolling ship and the divers keep the weight of their gas cylinders on a sturdy table until the last minute. The ship moves in alongside the red buoy and slowly starts backing up, at which time the divers jump in. The small boat then moves in and closely monitors the yellow float the divers tow around with them while the divers record their data on the bottom. The small boat also contains divers who will provide assistance to the technical divers as they require it.