Coring operations began today at noontime. We have used a box core to obtain sediment samples of the seafloor at ten locations to the east of Santorini. The box core collects a section of the sea bottom about 2 feet square by 2 feet deep. Some of the cores have shown distinctive layers, usually gray in color, that have been produced by explosive eruptions of Thera and Kolombo volcanoes. These cores will help us define the extent of the volcanic deposits on the seafloor around Thera.

After four days of surveying, everyone enjoyed the opportunity to get outside and work on deck in the sun. The weather was perfect for coring with virtually no waves and wind. A school of dolphins swam by around 4 pm to check out what we were doing and treated us to some acrobatic jumping. Tonight we switch back to the air gun survey in order to give
the crew some rest but will continue with more coring in the vicinity of Kolombo volcano in the morning.