"Knew this would be a one-way ticket"

April 23, 2012 1:14 PM

A Watermelon for the Aquanauts [9:45] - a trip down to the "wet porch" and exterior of NOAA's Aquarius Reef Base.
posted by Burhanistan (11 comments total)

Thanks for the "abysmal" allusion. Love that movie. :)
posted by Celsius1414 at 1:23 PM on April 23, 2012

"So raise your hand if you think that was a Russian water-tentacle."
posted by Celsius1414 at 1:28 PM on April 23, 2012 [1 favorite]

James: "It only needs to be big enough for me and a few important instruments."
Engineer: "I think we can arrange that."
James: "Oh and a watermelon."
Engineer: "Excuse me? *confused look*
James: "Yeah...a watermelon. I'm not going to the deepest part of the ocean without my watermelon!"
Engineer: "Ummmm.....ok."
James: "I'll never let you go Jack, never." *gently cradling watermelon while whispering in sing-song voice*
posted by Fizz at 1:32 PM on April 23, 2012

Meetup?
posted by leotrotsky at 1:47 PM on April 23, 2012

I read that as Aquabats at first and was pretty confused.
posted by Foosnark at 4:56 PM on April 23, 2012 [1 favorite]

Was anyone else hoping that the scuba-diver would uhh "drop" the watermelon and we'd see the watermelon float all the way back to the surface?

Now imagine a surprised fisherman's face if they saw a ripened watermelon emerge from the depths of the ocean. Man, the pranks these aquanauts could pull on unsuspecting fishermen.
posted by comradechu at 5:22 PM on April 23, 2012

That was much simpler and less plot-ful than I expected. Neat place, neat video, thanks for posting it.

Anyone know what the yellow "gas" is around 6:30 or so?
posted by LobsterMitten at 5:47 PM on April 23, 2012

I read that as Aquabats at first and was pretty confused.

I'm glad I wasn't alone on that one.
posted by Strange Interlude at 7:34 PM on April 23, 2012

That, right there, is my goddamned dream job.
posted by fnerg at 8:12 PM on April 23, 2012 [1 favorite]

Anyone know what the yellow "gas" is around 6:30 or so?

LobsterMitten...the "gas" is fluorescein dye, presented to the microscopic "intakes" of the sponge on its outside (by the diver as they passed by), filtered by the sponge and then exhaled through the large central opening. This fluorescein trick is used both by scientists measuring the filtration rate of sponges, and by nerdy divers (like my father) to amuse themselves. See Figure 2 and this flash video (fluorescein action begins at 6:41) and this youtube video.
posted by supercoiled at 10:15 PM on April 23, 2012 [3 favorites]

That is outstandingly cool, supercoiled, thank you!
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:45 PM on April 24, 2012