Exercise Bounty Bay - Phase 3 Diary

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Pictures or Notes
Photos by Chris Brick & Dan Burton

The expedition camp site at Henderson Island.
On arrival at Henderson, the team was split in to two and as one half dived the little explored coast line, the other half set up camp ashore, just in time for a heavy down poor.

Dave Goldie setting up satillite communications on Henderson Island, the most remote uninhabited fosil coral atol in the world.

The Saturn B satillite system, on loan from NSSL-Satcom Solutions, powered by a small petrol generator, worked perfectly and a strong satillite signal was established within minutes of landing, enabling the team to send e-mails and update the photographs on the expedition web site.

From left to right, Stave Paris-Hunter, Dave Reddington, Dave Goldie, Sundeep Dhillon and MV Bounty Bay Skipper Grehan Wragg at the site of a pre-historic Polynesian camp site.

The site was excavated some years ealier by another expedition.

Vicks climbing down the rockface after visiting the caves on Henderson Island

Dan Burton
with the
Island's Galapogos Turtle
Miss T

Local delicacies enjoyed by Sundeep, Jules and Dan with their hosts.

To the right the team provide more of their medical and dental expertise to the islanders.

Fixing the submerged engine

Some of the Island's children

Local gift production

	Phase 2 Diary			Phase 4 Diary
Click here to check out the Forum for updates on the Expedition Status
Date	Event		Pictures or Notes Photos by Chris Brick & Dan Burton

8 Feb 03	Dave Goldie swims with yellow spot emperors at Oeno Island
	Dave Goldie swims with a large school of sharpfin Baracuda in Oeno Island. (L) Lanny (Top) Dickie, (back) Dave Goldie (front) Mike on the last Exped dive at Oeno Island

7 Feb 03	Below: Jan, Dickie, Clare & Vicks look over the north beach at Henderson Island from the caves.		Coconut crab on Henderson Island with designer new home! Rod Newman cutting wood for fire, while been overwatched by coconut crab.


7 Feb 03	We plan to leave Henderson Island at midday Fri 7 Feb 03. We should arrive at Oeno Island mid morning Saturday 8th Feb. Our next communication should be on our arrival in Mangareva on Monday 10th Feb.

7 Feb 03	Expedition leader, Rod Newman, taking charge of the beach head for the landing at Henderson Island and soon followed by members of the Exercise Bounty Bay team landing. The landing was very hazardous and required excellent boat handling skills from the drivers.			The expedition camp site at Henderson Island. On arrival at Henderson, the team was split in to two and as one half dived the little explored coast line, the other half set up camp ashore, just in time for a heavy down poor.

	Dave Goldie setting up satillite communications on Henderson Island, the most remote uninhabited fosil coral atol in the world. The Saturn B satillite system, on loan from NSSL-Satcom Solutions, powered by a small petrol generator, worked perfectly and a strong satillite signal was established within minutes of landing, enabling the team to send e-mails and update the photographs on the expedition web site.
	From left to right, Stave Paris-Hunter, Dave Reddington, Dave Goldie, Sundeep Dhillon and MV Bounty Bay Skipper Grehan Wragg at the site of a pre-historic Polynesian camp site. The site was excavated some years ealier by another expedition. Vicks climbing down the rockface after visiting the caves on Henderson Island
	A Booby and chick on the nest. These birds are numerous on the island and nest just off of the shore line. To the right, a tiny hermit crab in the palm of expedition photographer Chris Brick's hand. These tiny creatures form part of a unique echo system on the Island, almost completely untouched by man. Another resident of Henderson Island, a large land crab which has made it's home in an old coconut shell. Numerous land crabs, of different sizes littered the camp.


6 Feb 03	We arrived at Henderson on schedule today the 5th and commenced diving on the South West point of the Island. Normally this area is undiveable due to the prevailing winds and sea states. But today as if by fate the waters calmed and we conducted diving in literaly one of the remotest parts of the South Pacific. We dived among reef sharks, octopus and giant Red Snapper. At one point Martin, Dan and I were surrounded by over seventeen of them! The currents are strong making diving very strenous. We have been unable to land at Henderson today to make camp, but I hope to take the team ashore tomorow. We shall then be able to conduct some of the shore side studies.



5 Feb 03	The team arrived safely at Henderson at lunch time and achieved successful dives.

5 Feb 03	A slight administration problem with the MV Bounty Bay paperwork delayed the team's departure from Pitcairn. They sailed at 1800 (local) on the 4th which means that they should now arrive at Henderson late on the 5th. Rod Newman celebrates the team dive on HMAV Bounty.


3 Feb 03	Another fruitful day's diving.... Our final diving day at Pitcairn. We finished off with every team member diving on the wreck of the HMAV Bounty with numerous artefacts found. The weather is glorious and forecast for the same tomorrow. We intend to sail tomorrow at 1300 local and head for Henderson Island some 105 miles away. With fair winds and calm seas we will arrive in the afternoon on the 4th. We will try to set up the comms gear using a generator, something that we have not tried yet, it should work. Visit the following sites to find out more about Henderson Island: UNESCO The Henderson Island Website


2 Feb 03
			Dan Burton with the Island's Galapogos Turtle Miss T	Local delicacies enjoyed by Sundeep, Jules and Dan with their hosts.


1 Feb 03	The two 'Smudges'. Mike 'Smudge' Smith is helped out of the water by Martin 'Smudge' Smith after another successfull dive in the waters off Pitcairn Island.		To the right the team provide more of their medical and dental expertise to the islanders.
	Jules Cowley diving on one of the fantastic coral beds and proves his regimental links...
	More marine biological survey and measurements.

28-31 Jan 03
	Nudibranch sea slug
	Fixing the submerged engine	St Paul's	Tom Cristian with the Bounty Bible	Some of the Island's children

		Fruit Shooting	Local gift production

	The Post Office

25-27 Jan 03	Victoria Price conducting minor surgery on a Pitcairn Island patient. One of the Joint Service Expeditions goals was to provide community support, in the form of manual labour, dental/ medical care and engineering expertise. The team also held a dental surgery, antenatal classes and repaired homes as well as weeding field.