Tropical Exploration 2015

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5. May 15

A few days ago, we crossed through the Panama Canal and the officers, crew, and science party aboard Okeanos Explorer received the Order of the Ditch. There are many traditional maritime fraternities and symbols connected with transiting through specific parts of the world’s oceans. Many of these have nautical traditions dating back to the time of sail, and some have been more recently adopted and passed on the civilian maritime community from the Navy. A full list is below:

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer crosses through the Panama Canal. Click image for credit and larger view.

• The Order of the Blue Nose for sailors who have crossed the Arctic Circle.
• The Order of the Red Nose for sailors who have crossed the Antarctic Circle.
• The Imperial Order of the Golden Dragon for sailors and marines who have crossed the International Date Line.
• The Order of the Ditch for sailors who have passed through the Panama Canal.
• The Order of the Rock for sailors who have transited the Strait of Gibraltar.
• The Safari to Suez for sailors who have passed through the Suez Canal.
• The Golden Shellback for sailors who have crossed the point where the Equator crosses the International Date Line.
• The Emerald Shellback or Royal Diamond Shellback for sailors who cross at 0 degrees off the coast of West Africa (where the Equator crosses the prime meridian)
• The Realm of the Czars for sailors who crossed into the Black Sea.
• The Order of Magellan for sailors who circumnavigated the Earth.
• The Order of the Lakes for sailors who have sailed on all five Great Lakes.
• The Order of the Spanish Main for sailors who have sailed in the Caribbean.
• The Order of the Sparrow for sailors who have sailed on all seven seas. (North Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Pacific, South Pacific, Indian, Arctic, Antarctic Oceans)
• The Order of the Ebony Shellback for sailors who have crossed the Equator on Lake Victoria.
• The Royal Order of Purple Porpoises for sailors who crossed the junction of the Equator and the International Date Line at the Sacred Hour of the Vernal Equinox.