https://www.armatusoceanic.com/podcast/017-going-to-sea

We love going to sea, it is probably the best part of the job. That’s where most of our adventures happen, that’s where most of the exciting discoveries and firsts happen and it’s where we meet some of the most interesting people. We want you to have a great time at sea too and not be put off by a bad first experience. Poor packing or a faux pas could spoil the whole experience and we don’t want that. We put together some advice for your first trip. Forgive us if parts seem patronising, they are all things we have seen spoil someone’s trip and with everything else to worry about, it’s easy to forget the simple stuff.

We chat with Larkin, a deck-hand turned youtuber about life at sea and sharing that experience through her videos. What is her average day like at sea and how’s the morning commute when your office is a small response vessel chasing a submarine 10,000 m below you? How can you get a celebratory tattoo offshore from an unqualified scientist? “Don’t worry, he’s a doctor, not that sort of doctor but don’t worry about that!”

Larkin represents the growing proportion of women at sea, a situation which has rapidly changed over the last few years. Did you know that there was a time when she would have been considered bad luck? Don Walsh tells us about the gradual changes to offshore culture that has allowed this and the female pioneers who blazed that trail for the current generation. There is still much to do, but things are accelerating.  

Finally, we hear from listeners what their tips are for your first trip offshore.

Feel free to get in touch with us with questions or you own tales from the high seas on:

[email protected]

We are also on

Twitter: @ArmatusO

Facebook: ArmatusOceanic

Instagram: @armatusoceanic

Read the show notes and find out more about us at:

www.armatusoceanic.com

Glossary

AB – Able Bodied seamen or deck hands

A-frame – type of lifting equipment, usually at the stern

Aft – towards the front of the boat

Bow – the front of the boat

Bridge – Usually at the top of the boat, where it is steered from

Bulkhead – the thick metal internal walls of a boat

Cabin – where you sleep offshore

Deck – the floors on a boat

Fore – towards the front of the boat

Head – the toilet

Mates – Officers under the captain (1st and 2nd mate)

Mess – the dining hall on a boat

Port – left side of the boat (regardless of which way you are facing), colour coded red

Rigger boots – steel toe capped safety shoes

Starboard - right side of the boat (regardless of which way you are facing), colour coded green

Zodiac – a small and fast inflatable boat

Links

Vote for a moratorium on deep-sea mining

Pig-faced shark found in Mediterranean Sea

More info on Oxynotus centrina (Linnaeus, 1758)

Big-eye grenadier on Reddit

Not too sure about the identification as the pic is quite distorted. Here’s info in the bigeye grenadier

My Salty Sea Life

Website

Instagram

YouTube

Facebook

Larkin’s ‘a day in the life of a sailor’ video. Great prep for your first time at sea.

Larkin’s morning commute

(a keen eye may spot Alan pottering about in the background)

Credits

Theme – Hadal Zone Express by Märvel

Offshore advice sound clips

Nikki – lecturer of marine biology

Andy - marine biologist

Nic – marine surveyor

James – marine geotechnical engineer

Giuseppe – marine scientists, EuroMarine early career scientist group OYSTER

Natalia – marine scientist, OYSTER communications manager

Logo image

The symbol of Hades

Alan giving Larkin the tattoo

Hidden track

Additional sound effects from https://www.zapsplat.com

BBC sound archive