Funding for Niku IX

[Ric Gillespie]

So only video is going to be considered when planning the underwater search for Niku 2017?

I thought everyone understood that the plan for the Niku IX expedition is to use the two Pisces three-person manned submersibles to conduct a thorough underwater search.  The primary search tool will be the Mark One Eyeball - six of them in each sub to be exact.  Each sub will also be equipped with HD video, forward-looking sonar, and metal detection capability.

[Monty Fowler]

I understood that just fine - but I was assuming that there would be some attempt to narrow down the search area to the most promising spots, since TIGHAR can't stay at Niku forever and it's a big reef face.

LTM,
Monty Fowler, TIGHAR No. 2189 EC

[Ric Gillespie]

I understood that just fine - but I was assuming that there would be some attempt to narrow down the search area to the most promising spots, since TIGHAR can't stay at Niku forever and it's a big reef face?

We'll let everyone know the plan once it's finalized.

[Monty Fowler]

Yes.  Such a review is currently underway.  The organization doing the review would prefer that we not talk about it at this time.

I don't understand why a organization would make that kind of stipulation, especially for something as innocuous as this, reviewing data about a 70-plus-year-old mystery.

LTM,
Monty Fowler, TIGHAR No. 2189 EC

[Ric Gillespie]

Yes.  Such a review is currently underway.  The organization doing the review would prefer that we not talk about it at this time.

I don't understand why a organization would make that kind of stipulation, especially for something as innocuous as this, reviewing data about a 70-plus-year-old mystery.

I guess you'll just have to add it to the list of things you don't understand.