Seafloor drop-off in the Mediterranean.
This one is from a fiber optic cable landing operation in 2010.
We suited up in our shiny drysuits and rebreathers, and we descended into the cool, cloudy waters and started the usual wrestling with waterjets and articulated pipes. The sea floor was a barren wasteland of rocky cliffs and treacherous crevices.
As is often the case with these jobs, we were met with a slew of problems. One of the cliffs was proving to be more unstable than anticipated, and as we worked, chunks of rock began to loosen and tumble towards one of the divers, who narrowly avoided being crushed by the shifting sediment.
Looking over the edge of that cliff again in this picture, I find it strikes a balance between thalassophobia and fascination. A good reminder of just how much of the ocean is still unexplored and unknown, and of the incredible beauty and power of the natural world.
