Good weather seldom lasts more than a few hours off the coast of Antarctica, and after a remarkable day of cloudless fine conditions, the next day dawns grey and cold. The research vessel, Akademik Treshnikov, moves back from its parking spot against the glacier and sails to a nearby location, where the submarine is again launched. Instead of exploring the underside of the glacier, this time the focus is on marine life on the ocean floor. As the unmanned sub reaches a depth of 900m, a giant sponge resembling an enormous gourd looms into view. The four-man team operating the robotic sub manoeuvre it into place, and then using a robotic arm, lift the beautiful creature from its perch, and places it in one of the sampling boxes.