As we guide our steadfast sailing vessel across the watery expanse of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, shipboard life teems with energy and excitement. A squall rips through the rigging on dawn watch as we scramble to strike the mains’l. Large, translucent lobster larvae and unidentified purple jellyfish are pulled up from the deep in our net tows

Today we spent the majority of our day in the town of Chatham. Chatham is home to the famous U.S. Coast Guard Station featured in The Finest Hours and the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (AWSC), both of which we visited. At the White Shark Conservancy, we learned about great white sharks and the high concentration of white sharks in the Chatham area due to the increased local seal population.

Today, the students of the Cramer began the day with a breakfast for all, followed by the announcements of watches and the start of emergency drills. We practiced how to respond to three different emergencies: fire, man overboard, and prepare to abandon ship. Everyone on the ship has a duty during one of these emergency scenarios.

Hi y’all it’s me, Jber, the first Assistant Scientist onboard, and it’s my birthday! I know my parents always think about me a lot on my birthday when I’m at sea, so I always try to write the blog on this day to say hi! Hi Mom! Hi Dad! Plz pet the dog for me.

After a delicious breakfast cooked by Jared, we began our day with a guest lecture with Logan Kline from NOAA about marine mammals and sound. We learned how anthropogenic noises in the ocean affect marine mammals and about Logan’s work with Passive Acoustic Monitoring to study these effects.

All aboard had a great day today, full of learning and trying to stay cool! We started the day anchored off Logan International Airport, and after a discussion about seeing and sketching, we spent the morning doing one rotation of orientations including lab safety, engine room and watch standing on deck.

I was supposed to be assistant steward the very first day on the boat, but since everything was chaos and all of the students, including myself, were still trying to find their sea-legs, I missed my chance. After weeks of waiting, the opportunity finally came again

After a breakfast of cereal and delicious fruit salad (minus the blueberries. I don’t like blueberries - George) (I, unlike George, LOVE blueberries, please don’t take them from me - Amelia), we started today’s classes off early with a guest lecturer from Sea Grant. We learned about ocean acidification.

Today, the SSV Corwith Cramer welcomed 24 high school students with adventure in their eyes!  This group will comprise the Cramer’s student crew, along with 14 professional crew aboard for the next two weeks.

We officially left Orona! Orona was a fun time as there are all the crazy snorkeling stories from the others. I was able to see coral and sea creatures that I have never seen before and it is amazing. I am really grateful with this experience as life on the boat has challenged me and helped me grow.