Recovery 



1-2" coarse shelly sand 



4" coarse sand, reef debris 

 coral heads visible 



1/3 bucket fine to coarse sand 

 no shells, coral visible 



1/4 bucket shelly sand 

 coral visible 



Although all these stations proved too granular for DOSP operations, ample time 

 was available for DOSP "dry" runs aboard ship (some time was spent on ship's 

 repairs, provisioning, other experiments, and servicing the TEKTITE site during 

 this period). At station P-2, water clarity afforded an opportunity for scuba 

 diver examination of the DOSP and extensive 35 mm still camera and underwater 

 television coverage of its mechanical performance. This period was also useful 

 for working out optimum handling techniques with the ship's crew. 



Examination of ship's charts indicated soft sediment areas off Ponce, P.R., and 

 at the end of this first operation period the ship moved to that area. Discus- 

 sion of DOSP operations are included in Phase III below. 



Phase II Studies : April 8-22, 1970 



During this period, the DOSP system was secured aboard the ADVANCE II and the 

 authors undertook an extensive investigation of potential soft sediment areas 

 on the Virgin Islands plateau. From Phase I studies, further discussion with 

 CRI personnel, and examination of all available Coast and Geodetic Survey 

 charts, the only likely local area remaining was the south coast of St. Croix, 

 In cooperation with USNUSC, the AVR VAST was leased for a 1-day sediment sam- 

 pling survey (April 21, 1970). Table 2 expresses the results of this survey. 



In Table 2, the number of attempts with any particular sampler at a given sta- 

 tion is indicated parenthetically. Scuba surveys were made at a number of sites 

 to 100 feet water depths near Fredriksted, St, Croix, and indicated coarse 

 shelly sand in pockets between coral reef structures. 



Phase III Studies : April 6, 7 and April 26-28, 1970 



As noted in Phase I above, operations with the DOSP were begun at the end of the 

 first test period aboard the R/V ADVANCE II in the vicinity of Ponce, P.R, These 

 operations were continued in that region in the second test period as a result 

 of Phases I and II studies above. Figure 4 illustrates the study area with 

 stations noted and described in Table 3, 



VII-22 



