Day 1 : Here we go...

We woke up bright and early Friday morning to watch land disappear.  How many times does someone get to say that in their lifetime?  Well, if you are a scientist at sea you probably get that thrill often.  For a journalist who, until yesterday, didn't even know this opportunity existed, it was thrilling.

As with everything in life, sometimes the hardest part of the adventure is letting go of the dock and swimming away from safe harbor. 

My place on this ship came as a surprise to everyone, including me.
Many of these missions have resulted in some amazing discoveries and fascinating papers.  All necessary parts of this journey.

There is so much more to life, working at sea, and that is where I come in.  Over the next 26 days I hope to introduce you to the brilliant minds behind the research, explain how a floating lab works and try to figure out how exactly one showers on a rocking boat.

Follow me on Twitter @NEstaphan

Safety first! First time cruisers test out their survival suits and learn how to abandon ship.