Photographs from a twelve-day trip taken by Bob Hardage during May 2002 as a member of a research group assisting Louisiana State University (LSU) and the Minerals Management Services (MMS) in the acquisition of ground-truth information across gas hydrate deposits in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Senior Research Scientist Bob Hardage and Minerals Management Services biologist Susan Childs preparing for 2,360-foot dive in the deep submersible, Johnson-Sea-Link I.

Entering the Johnson-Sea-Link I with the submersible's pilot.

Back to the surface four hours later, after a nighttime retrieval.

Sunset about 100 miles offshore.