Chapter 817 - 366: Anchoring at Rose Island (Part 2)

Chapter 817: Chapter 366: Anchoring at Rose Island (Part 2)

"Affirmative."

"Now, what you need to do is point the bow into the wind and slowly sail across that sandbar," Riven begins issuing a series of precise instructions.

"Let me know when you feel the ship’s position is about 15 meters past your ideal anchoring point."

"Remember, the ship has inertia; we need to drop the anchor while it drifts forward."

Lin Yu’an steadily maneuvers Polaris, the massive vessel gliding silently on the sea breeze towards the sandbar, as if skating on ice.

His eyes are fixed on the depth sounder and GPS chart, his mind swiftly calculating the complex effects of wind, current, and the ship’s inertia.

"Depth 4.5 meters... wind speed 8 knots, headwind... current speed almost zero..." he mutters the data internally.

When the bow crosses the center of the sandbar, he doesn’t immediately give the order but lets the ship drift forward about two ship lengths.

"Now!" he decisively orders through the intercom.

"Affirmative!" Riven immediately presses the "lower" button on the electric anchor winch at the bow.

"Clang clang clang—"

The thick galvanized anchor chain, like an awakened steel serpent, swiftly bursts from the anchor chain compartment, crashing into the clear seawater with a mighty sound!

The front—a massive, plow-shaped "triangular plow anchor," under the weight of gravity, precisely strikes the pristine sandbar.

"Anchor’s on the bottom!" Riven observes the water depth mark on the anchor chain and reports loudly, "Depth 4.5 meters! We’re planning to release 25 meters of anchor chain, with an anchoring ratio of about 5:1!"

"Agreed!" Lin Yu’an responds while gently engaging reverse gear, allowing the hull to slowly back up.

This operation is extremely crucial; the goal is to utilize the hull’s backward pull to let the plow anchor buried in the sand dig deeper, maximizing grip.

He can clearly feel, at the moment the anchor chain was fully taut, a powerful pull emanating from the bow.

The entire Polaris suddenly halts, like a steed firmly tethered by an invisible rein, stopping steadily without further drifting.

"Anchor’s secure!" Riven loudly confirms at the bow, capable of judging from the vibration on the deck underfoot that the anchor has clenched the seabed firmly.

They successfully created a stable, tranquil temporary home in this paradise-like bay.

Lin Yu’an switched off the engine and in an instant, the whole world fell silent.

The diesel engine’s roar disappeared, leaving only the soft crooning of the breeze caressing the mast and gentle slapping sound of waves against the hull.

The turquoise layers of seawater gently ripple beneath the hull, revealing the pristine and delicate sandy bottom, sunlight penetrating the clear water forming a shimmering golden mesh on the sea floor.

A few colorful coral fish curiously dart around beneath the hull. Here, it almost feels like a palette dropped by God in the Caribbean Sea.

"Well done, Captain." Riven walks back to the cockpit, face graced with an approving smile, "Your judgment was spot-on, the mooring location almost perfect. Test passed."

"Then, may I start my lesson now, Coach?" Lin Yu’an replies, smiling.

"Alright, my dear trainee," Riven claps her hands, officially transitioning to coach mode.

Her form-fitting sun protection diving suit accentuates her athletic figure, exuding both professionalism and strength.

"Before we don this ’space suit’ that allows us to enter another world, the first step is learning how to assemble and inspect it with as much care as life itself."

"Lin, now, treat it like your weapon, familiarize yourself with every component."

She gestures to the Atomic T3 regulator, Halcyon backplate system, and the brand-new aluminum tank lying on the ground, ready to proceed with the most basic lesson.

Captain Mike stands by, watching with sunglasses and arms folded, looking somewhat amused.

He leans on the railing, winking at Lin Yu’an. "Lin, pay attention. Riven is much stricter as a coach than a captain."

"If you dare make a mistake underwater, she’ll show you what being a ’Devil’ truly means."

"Dad! Don’t disturb!" Riven shoots him a glare.

She clears her throat and picks up the BCD (Buoyancy Control Device), beginning her explanation.

"First, connecting the BCD with the tank. The BCD is your flying backpack underwater, the tank is your ’fuel tank.’"

As she explains, she prepares to demonstrate. "The first step in connecting them is to wet the BCD’s tank strap to increase friction."

"Then loop it over the tank, and pay attention, the valve height should be level with the back of your head..."

However, before she finishes speaking, she notices Lin Yu’an has already picked up the BCD, skillfully damping the strap in seawater.

Then he accurately loops it over the tank, adjusts the height, finally tugging the buckle outward and snapping it inward with a decisive click, securing the strap.

The entire process flows smoothly, as though already practiced hundreds of times.

Riven’s lecture abruptly stops, leaving her stunned: "You... You didn’t, by chance, cram PADI’s training videos last night, did you?"

"Just glanced at the instruction manual’s diagrams," Lin Yu’an calmly replies.

"Alright then..." Riven feels her teaching rhythm disrupted once more.

She takes a deep breath, forcibly steering the lesson back on track, pointing at the titanium gleaming regulator set.

"Step two, connect your lifeline—the regulator. This is the most precise part of the entire system."

She picks up the regulator, preparing to explain how to distinguish between DIN interface and Yoke interface, and how to connect the first stage.

Yet again, she’s a step behind, as Lin Yu’an has already picked up the regulator, removing the DIN interface dust cap, checking the O-ring seal at the tank valve for integrity.

Then he aligns the regulator’s thread with the tank valve’s inner thread, lightly twists until tightened.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Mike interjects, amused, unable to bear it any longer.

"Lin, are you here to crash the party? At least give our coach some face and pretend you know nothing, would you?"

Lin Yu’an reluctantly halts his actions.

Riven is left both amused and exasperated, feeling like she’s not teaching a student but rather refreshing a veteran disguised as a novice.

She decides to skip all operational steps, directly diving into theoretical core.

She points to the regulator in Lin Yu’an’s hand, asking, "Okay, since you know how to assemble it, tell me, what are the functions of the first and second stages?"

Lin Yu’an holds the regulator like introducing a familiar tool, an art piece.

"The first stage is the system’s core; it reduces the high-pressure air over 200 atmospheres in the tank to a mid-pressure slightly above the environmental pressure by about 9.5 to 10 atmospheres."

"Then through various lines, it delivers mid-pressure air to different components."

He points at the main second stage and the spare yellow second stage: "These are secondary pressure-reducing devices, lowering mid-pressure air to match the ambient pressure at this depth for our breathing."

He points to the thin high-pressure line connected to the pressure gauge: "This is the only high-pressure line; it connects directly to the high-pressure chamber of the first stage, used to monitor remaining tank pressure. Connecting BCD inflator valve and second stage involves all mid-pressure lines."

Before he finishes, Riven can’t help but interrupt him, feeling if she doesn’t assert control back, it would end as his personal knowledge showcase rather than a lesson.

"Stop! Stop! Stop!" She waves her hands in amusement, "Enough! Enough! You’ve graduated from theory! We’re skipping it! Now, don it and get ready for the dive!"

Mike chuckles, shaking his head, rising and stretching.

"Alright, seems there’s nothing left for me here." He heads to the stern, starting to untie the ropes of a small inflatable dinghy.

"Take it easy, kids; I won’t disturb you," he says, drifting towards the nearby coral reefs to sunbathe and maybe fish some groupers for dinner.

Turning back to Riven, he reminds, "Remember, safety comes first. Don’t go overboard with the fun."

"I know, Dad!"

Mike paddles the yellow dinghy leisurely towards the distant coral reef, leaving this heavenly bay entirely to Lin Yu’an and Riven.

——

[Click for voting!]