Days 16-20 : Transit to La Réunion – adventure’s epilogue

October 10th – 14th 2O25 / Last preparations before the landing

Author : Jade

The return transit from Mayotte to La Réunion marks our travel’s last step. After some weeks of intense activities on the Fer à Cheval and Fani Maore’s area, between observations, collects, operations of launch in the water and instrument’s recuperation, and of course the attentive monitoring of the plumes, the Marion Dufresne sets from now on the course to La Réunion.

This time started the October 10^th 2025 and began like the other, in a frantic pace. On board, there is no longer any question of taking samples or launching instruments: the time is from now on at the conclusions, reports and at the logistic preparation to the return. Each team is busy to compil the information, redact activities reports, sort and secure the material and the samples (water, stones…) before their routing on the ground, which takes up all their energy. In the PC-Science, the computers purr.

The last watches follow one after the other, in the accumulated fatigue, but also in the excitement of these last moments at sea. The seminars continue to the day before arrival, closed by the Anne Lemoine and Angèle Laurent’s presentation about the range of seismic signals from the Fani Maoré eruption, from the start of the seismic crises in May 2018.

In the same way, we, students on board, we work tirelessly to finalise the technical data sheets, the seminars’ reports, the logbook, before to back on the ground. During this period, we realise a succession of interviews of the scientists and of the crew, compiling the testimonies of those who worked together as a team to successfully complete the MAYOBS 33 mission. The evenings are animated by passionate discussions between students and scientists. This transit also represents the last moments to enjoy the sunrises like the sunsets on the sea. To finish the mission, a little diner has been organised on board, the occasion to following, laughing and talking about this volcano, before to return on the ground.

It was a truly memorable experience to realise this campaign with these scientific teams, who took action together for a common goal. The collaboration, the kindness, the pedagogy, and the shared passion have given at this expedition a single dimension. The life on board this ship has been a true discovery.

Testimonies post-campaign

• Post by Judith Houdry on LinkedIn
• Post by Jules Fanti on LinkedIn
• Post by the Master Géosciences Océan of the University of Brest on LinkedIn

We will keep of this campaign a very beautiful memory. A wonderful travel, with prints of excitement, discoveries but also of fatigue. The welcome and the discussions on board with the scientists, but also the crew members, have permitted to integrate us fully. This Floating University permitted us to form a super team with who took pleasure to exchange. A magnificent adventure with a super team! We are aware of the opportunity which was granted to us by our integration at this scientist expedition at sea. This experience taught us al lot about the work in team, the unrestrained production of documents, the instruments, the operations on board of an oceanographic ship and obviously about the submarine volcanism in Mayotte. This adventure enlightened us about our scientific orientation and interest for the sea and volcanos. And who know? Maybe we will have one day the opportunity to find us, to take part in another fascinating mission at sea, to sailing again together on the waves.

Back to MAYOBS33′ logbook