A keen research field team departed Rosslyn Bay on Saturday, June 25, for Miall Island just north of Great Keppel Island.

Their purpose: to weigh 43 colonies of coral already placed on growth racks in the field in March and to sample a further 100 colonies for later biochemical analysis.

Conditions were challenging from the start with chilly 15-knot south-westerly winds already -60C below normal for June and predicted to freshen and turn south-easterly over the ensuing days. With four days of wind and swell and 210C water ahead of them, the team bravely set out with their goal in mind and hot Milo in their thermos flasks.

The Gladstone contingent of the team comprised CQU dive master Damon Shearer and Kristen Douglas, a visiting American intern. From CQU Rockhampton, Nathan Green from Biological Sciences was boat driver and Master of Science candidate Alison Jones was chief scientist.

Engineering kindly loaned its 15hp tinnie for the trip after the unfortunate theft of the Biology vessel earlier in the year. Keppel Dive on Great Keppel Island was shore contact and helped with tanks and dive gear. The team huddled together nightly in a cabin at Keppel Haven following long days battling wind and swell.

Kristen is visiting from Washington and is working at CQU Gladstone on salt flats research. She came along as cook and snorkel support. Kristen learned how to mash potatoes, heat meat pies, and barbecue sausages, make Milo and tell the difference between a cucumber and a zucchini. Damon acted as dive coordinator and re-organised the chief scientist and Nathan took care of all things to do with boating.

In spite of conditions the trip was a resounding success and the team are still talking to each other.

Photos: It's all smiles above the water for Masters candidate Alison Jones as research progresses well below the ocean.