Divers study seaweed under Ross Sea ice

Press, 2 November 1989, Page 24

Divers study seaweed under Ross Sea ice

PA . Wellington An Otago University scuba diving team has reached Cape Evans in Antarctica for a scientific project looking at seaweed under the ice in Ross Sea, the D.S.I.R. says. Led by a Dunedin-based botany lecturer, Dr Murray Brown, the group is spending about a month diving through a hole in the sea ice to sample and observe seaweeds. The other party members are a doctoral research student, Mr Jake Keogh, a research assistant, Marlis Holmes, both of Dunedin; a dive supervisor, Mr Reyn Naylor, of Christchurch; and a Californian scientist, Dr Kathy Miller. Before they left for Cape EVans, the group did a two-day survival course with the New Zealand Antarctic Research Pro-

gramme on Ross Island, the D.S.I.R. Antarctic Division said.

This involved building and sleeping in snow caves, practice at identifying crevasses on glaciers, abseiling down an ice fall, and specialist sea ice work. Dr Brown said sea ice conditions had prevented diving in the last two seasons, so the group was pleased that this year’s service was suitable.

Mr Keogh, Dr Miller and Mr Naylor are diving through a hole drilled in the ice to reach the sea. They are working from a small hut placed over the hole to provide shelter from the harsh Antarctic weather.

Dr Brown said they are studying two kinds of red seaweed, called Phyllophora antarctica and Iridaea obovata.

“In spite of the harsh

Antarctic enviroiiment, with sea water temperatures remaining about —2deg. throughout the year, ice scour and a period of total darkness for several months, seaweeds still manage to grow and survive here,” he said.

The group’s camp consists of three small huts and two tents at Cape Evans.

Mr Naylor said the cold conditions would limit the length of each dive the group made. After about 20 minutes in the water, the diver’s hands began to get cold, he said. For comfort and safety all dives would be limited to 30 minutes.

Strict safety measures would be observed and all divers would be attached to lines on the surface, he said.

They would wear dry suits, rather than wet suits, to combat the cold.