a new life in the sea

diving is like riding a bike...and falling off

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 31 May 2015 19:07:00 +0000

While I've been good about maintaining a proficiency regimen for various diving skills and technical equipment, I have not spent much time actually working underwater since my role shifted into program development for recent #exosuitproject efforts.

This has been a challenge for me, as I went from literally spending every day underwater for numerous years as an inshore mud diver, to largely sitting behind a desk. When the diving slowed down, I went through a physical withdrawal period - quite possibly some type of decompression sickness from the several thousands of hours spent in very shallow water. After coming out of that withdrawal, or perhaps decompression, the after effects of extensive diving started to kick in...various pain niggles, skin issues, my metabolism got all screwed up and I went through a number of food binge issues, a serious lung/sinus thing, and it went on. I'd say that now, after a year, I'm just slowly becoming reacclimated to terra firma, though still carrying many of the residual issues along with me. On one hand I feel like I needed to put that level of physical and physiological stress behind me, on the other hand, perhaps I would have been better off sticking with the program.

Yesterday, a colleague inquired if I'd be up for some Saturday side work to install a helix mooring. I couldn't have been more excited about getting back out there to do some work underwater, so away we went. For those not knowing what a helix mooring is, it is essentially a steel anchor that is hydraulically screwed into the seafloor until a certain amount of torque is reached during installation. These can be up to 20 feet long, or longer, comprised of a bottom section with multiple 'discs', then extensions to drive deeper and deeper until the desired torque is reached. The full anchor can be 600-700 pounds, and the diver is required to handle each extension segment underwater - lifting, rigging, maneuvering - its a lot of bumps and bruises.

From it's terminal end, chain is typically affixed to then secure moorings, floating docks, or similar marine hardware. I've installed probably over a hundred of these things in the past, so the sequence was like riding a bike.

Despite working in shallow water, the conditions during mooring work are often difficult - bay bottoms tend to be mudholes, the water is dirty from runoff and at times industrial waste, and it can be very dark to blackwater type diving. These are the types of environments that offer little for sightseeing, but truly help to refine underwater sensory perception and spatial awareness.

Installing a helix system means running a hydraulic torque motor underwater, keeping hydraulic hoses, gear lines, and an air hose free from entanglement, or worse - getting jammed up in and around the anchor as it screws itself into the bottom. It's not an inherently safe operation, so it takes a degree of skill and common sense to do it right without incident. This type of work is often taken for granted as grunt work by the outside community, but I can tell you from firsthand experience that the guys out on the water doing this type of stuff, despite some personality issues, are sharp as nails when it comes to being capable hands out on the water. 'Think fast, act fast' is the name of the game.

My first descent was through the brown upper layers to arrive at a firm bottom in about 20 feet of water. The bottom was crusty, consisting of shell hash and rock, though there were patches of floculent organic matter. There was just enough water movement to whisk away sediment that I kicked up as I got the work area organized with tools and lines, and was I was pleasantly surprised to have 3-4 feet of visibility. It just felt good to be back there in my element, however a few things were obvious. One was that I recalled having to fight a few areas within my suit that would routinely flush with water and make me cold. The year or so away from wet work lead to some added insulation which filled up those areas and I was instead sweating like a fool. Sweating underwater is such a strange thing, but when you do, you know for sure that you are losing some serious water weight as you can actually feel the oil from your skin wick away under your suit and become replaced with seawater. The day's operation rounded out at me four pounds lighter than when I woke up in the morning.

Communicating topside is typically by using pull signals which at times do not go recognized. That means multiple ascents and descents, fighting your sinuses, and quite frankly defying all of the basic rules of diving regarding ascent rates and so on. Your tissues end up working like a sponge while transitioning to and from 10 psi numerous times over the course of several hours.

When driving the helix anchor into the bottom, you can feel the power of the pressure the hydraulic unit is placing on doing the work, which results in you paying acute attention - all of the equipment down there could do some serious damage. Every now and again a hydraulic hose will drape itself over a shoulder, or around your legs, and its subtle vibration from fluid cycling reminds you of the power you are playing with. As the anchor screws deeper and deeper, silt is kicked up and visibility often reduces itself to zero. At times, psychologically you have to force yourself into this little black hole to operate - that can be extremely challenging for some, and often the make it or break it point in a diving career. The ability to operate, and operate well, when feeling in such isolation is a major hurdle to overcome for the working diver. For me at least, those moments offer the solitude I miss day by day, and I strive to be at my best during those moments. Those are the times when performance counts most.

After about three and half cumulative hours on the bottom and the job done, it is time to break down the hydraulic torque motor underwater and send tools to the surface. By this point, exhaustion sneaks up on you, as to bumps and bruises from working with all the heavy equipment and muscling around 600-700 pounds of anchor hardware. It's definitely like falling off that bike that you are so confident in riding.

At the end of the day, I re-appreciated what it is like to be in 'dive shape', something that I am not in right now, but certainly hope to be again very soon. For now, I am paying the price for taking time away from it all.

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NASA's Ocean Worlds Exploration Program

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 26 May 2015 01:10:00 +0000

News of a recent NASA proposed budget to the House Appropriations Committee crossed my desk just this week, and while the vision is exciting, I'm somewhat disturbed.

The punchline of the proposed Ocean Worlds Exploration Program includes ambitious life-seeking missions to the watery worlds of Europa, Enceladus, and Titan, with program development tipping well over the $100 MM mark. I, perhaps more than anyone, am excited about the pursuit of discovering new extraterrestrial life in our universe, but I have been choking on these massive NASA investments when we are in the wake of virtually eliminating US funded ocean exploration programs.

There are two trains of thought...

First, one might argue that high end NASA style exploration and the innovation required to get us there will trickle down to enhance ocean exploration and other areas. This is a tried and true investment strategy, and certainly has its merits. For instance, much of the remote sensing technology used in ocean mapping has intimate ties to comparable mapping strategies of other planet's surfaces. Then of course there are the innovations that we all relate to on a daily basis, like velcro. All important, all valuable, and all fit the bigger picture.

Another train of thought that I believe warrants some considerations is a bottom-up approach. Here's a thought - invest $100 MM into ocean exploration with the intent of a) developing a suite of vehicles, instruments, tools, and so on that provide for opportunities to scale up human exploration and data acquisition within new ocean frontiers; and b) targeting methods that provide analogues for future manned extended range space exploration. Some might say we've been there and done that and it only works to a limited scale (60's-70's era of life in the sea programs), however our needs are different today.

Fiscally, this level of investment into ocean exploration would be unprecedented, and if implemented with sounds business strategy would quite likely result in a sustained enterprise - new medicines, new fisheries, new sources of recreation and entertainment, and a renewed focus on technology that could truly take us somewhere 'out of this world'. The resulting science would be high impact, loaded with fresh new discoveries, and we might even ignite enough public interest to recognize that the value placed on our oceans directly correlates with the value we consider of ourselves. All makes logical sense.

Given space exploration's movement for a manned mission to Mars, certainly the argument has been made that our survival may require a quantum leap away from Earth - a sort of panspermia that may likely have planted the seeds of life right here at the beginning. perhaps we don't have to look that far away. Perhaps what we need is a new found synergy with our blue planet. There's plenty of real estate out there for the taking.

Where NASA is going right, and we [the ocean community] is seemingly going wrong, is that they have a voice that is being heard in Congress. There's been plenty of gripes and groans about how the US only funds ocean programs at a fraction of a percent of NASA's total budget, but where is the action and any concerted effort to change that? Therein lies the problem - we need to be heard, but first, we need a voice.

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Trapped Under the Sea | a review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 20 May 2015 18:30:00 +0000

With my recent travel schedules I've managed to do some much needed catch up on my reading list, and just turned the last page of Neil Swidey's 'Trapped Under the Sea'. The book recounts the tragic event involving the loss of two divers during the Deer Island outfall tunnel project in Boston several years ago.

The book's subject matter was captivating given my own line of work, and particularly my recent work with these types of tunneling projects. The descriptions of the personnel, the equipment, the decision making, and the aquatic lifestyle by those entrenched in the trade is all dead on. For those looking for an insider's perspective of the industry and the very real risks involved, this is a good read.

From a critical perspective, I was not personally gripped by the story,though likely because I am too close to the subject matter so there was little left for surprise. That said however, a number of key lessons were highlighted which reinforced my own opinions on the industry, particularly diving within industry and not 'sport' diving.

The book closes with the description of those lost as 'ordinary heroes'. in fact those very words are etched in a memorial on Deer Island to pay tribute. That sums up divers better than any other description. Despite the layers upon layers of bureaucracy and management that often imposes itself on these types of projects - for better or worse - it inevitably comes down to people getting their hands dirty and feet wet to get the job done...and a willingness to do that. In many cases, the technical aptitude and skill sets required are no less demanding than a trip to space. For comparison, recall that at a depth of just 33 feet, or one atmosphere of depth, humans are physiologically just as removed from terra firma as being on the moon.

Interestingly, professional divers (at least those with any longevity) fall into two distinct camps. First are those such as the crew described in the book - they often live a hard life, travel in tough circles, and often end up overcome by the hard lifestyle. The second extreme are the few who have the intellectual capacity of rocket surgeons. I have worked closely with both camps. The common ground found between the two is an aptitude to survive. This has little to do with being an extremist or stunt man, but has everything to do with a heightened sense of self, and an innate ability to separate physical and psychological challenges when confronted with those challenges. Divers are unquestionably a unique breed, and perhaps some of the most capable people on this planet. Who else could stomach travelling 10 miles underground for a day of work?

In close, I'd say it's worth a read for those curious about the working side of the life aquatic. As you turn the pages, just consider that this type of work is underway each and every day - beneath city streets, at depths and within environments that would send shivers up your spine, and will forever continue into the unknown. Some of the most pressing challenges of our time have yet to surface, but are right here in our backyard, and will unquestionably require the human hand at work.

The art of problem solving at frontier limits is what exploration is all about, and continues in perpetuity.

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the chronic tinkering disease

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 18 May 2015 15:40:00 +0000

Well, I played hookie this Monday morning and went for a dive. Guilty? Heck no...I call it good strategy in that I worked through the weekend so was due for a break and skipped the weekend dive site crowds in favor of the very still and quiet Monday morning. Not a soul in sight.

For the last several years I've been on a bit of a research and development hook to make things 'better' - more productive, more efficient, safer, and so on. With that comes a lot of shop time, and less in-water time, so I've made it my 2015 resolution to do a lot more diving this season...and not work diving, but rather more leisurely technical and exploration diving. As R&D efforts materialize, the latter stages are often what I consider a chronic tinkering disease. That is, one ends up spending countless hours fidgeting with the finer details. Some out of necessity, some are just compulsive.

breaking that rut can be very difficult. For those who dive rebreathers, you know exactly what I mean. There are few who do not make changes to their equipment - even something as seemingly simple as new hose routing can result in hours upon hours of this tinkering I am speaking of. Fortunately, I can see the light at the end of the tinkering (at least for this round) and am getting back to diving.

This morning I caught the incoming tide, which contrary to my expectations, resulted in some churned up water and less than ideal conditions. Nevertheless, the solitude made it worth it...away from the chaos and the busy-ness of the daily grind, and into the silent world.

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saved by slivers of a cent

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 10 May 2015 00:57:00 +0000

For sanity's sake and practice of good form, I've been doing my absolute best to commit a half a day each weekend to going diving. Call it 'my time' to decompress from terra firma while striving to maintain all of the acute senses and perceptions that are needed to push this life aquatic just a bit further ahead.

Through these weekend excursions I've found some reignited enthusiasm for local exploration. It's easy to get caught up in the idea of needing to travel to some exotic locale to see or experience something new, but as I've been discussing my recent dives with colleagues, it's dawned on me, and many of my peers, that just steps away from the norm puts you well into oceana incognita - an unknown ocean - and that range can be reached from any beach in the world.

My new found local objective is to develop the tools and techniques to work up to a mile long dive away from the shore - this requires navigation equipment, new configurations for carrying ample life support, and it goes on. It's been an exciting path to be on and I've already stumbled upon some new territory. For instance, at 800 linear feet from the beach in about 80 feet of water there is a massive granite reef with about 20 feet of relief from the bottom. It stands alone amidst the vast barren desert, creating a stunning stomping ground for a variety of marine life.

Anyway, this morning was my first wet suit dive of the season, marking my tradition of making the switch from diving dry on Mother's Day weekend. Just as I suited up and got my gear together I was stopped dead in my tracks - the high pressure spool o-rings on my HP gauge had blown out. Game over, that is unless you have packed a reasonable save-a-dive kit and found another o-ring. Phew! Saved by slivers of a cent yet again - these #003 o-rings are probably a tenth of cent a piece. Naturally that's the way it always goes - you can have ten thousand bucks worth of gear going in the water but be shut down by the 1/10th of a cent o-ring. After that hurdle, I trudged down to the water's edge and despite is being low tide, visibility was tremendous...30 feet or more, which can likely be attributed to the still cold water. It was a balmy 45 degrees. I definitely rethought my wetsuit decision more than once during the dive.

The HP spool. #003 o-rings are the smallest found within dive equipment, and among the most frequent to fail. Without them, dive over.

Nevertheless, I made a quick run to about 700 linear feet from the beach where I caught the tail end of the outgoing tide in deeper water which is at the edge of the Narragansett Bay's east passage. Given the flow condition, I called a quits and headed back, and took some time to take in the tremendous scene given the clear water. From maintaining buoyancy about 10 feet over the bottom I could clearly see my line marks from previous runs at this same site. it was pretty remarkable to see how consistent the runs have been when the visibility has previously been short enough that I was not relying on visibly identifiable paths. Every 20 feet or so there was a skate half buried in the sand. The crabs were scuttling about, and there was no shortage of jellyfish in the water column with their mantle's acting like a prism for the light penetrating the surface. For Rhode Island diving, this was about as good as it gets.

Approximate 800 LF shore run from Ft. Wetherill. Red circle indicates reef area in 80 fsw.

As I keep working the site, the plan will be to continue surveying the edge of the channel, and begin to consider traversing the channel after a series of work up dives. Certainly plenty of work to keep me busy this season, and when considering that this is all diving at just one single dive site - the effort speaks to the many lifetimes of opportunities that await right in our backyards.

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beneath city streets

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 00:56:00 +0000

I found it rather fitting today to find myself fielding emails about celebrating Earth Day using an iPhone and while doing 'fieldwork' in the heart of the city of Boston. I was forced to find some appreciation of the gray and brown, rather than green, and came to realize that he world around us is very much a product of our lives and lifestyles.

Today's operation was supporting some very limited below grade excursions to investigate a partially flooded culvert. Despite city plans and blueprints, there are outstanding questions about where this thing runs, what it feeds, and what exactly feeds into it. The world around us in this case was a man-made (in relatively recent history) void beneath city streets that calls on the work of the urban subterranean explorer.

I've found these types of environments of increasing interest since my own first excursion below grade in Providence. The brick masonry lining the sewer conduits downtown is just magnificent and speaks to a degree of tradesmanship that is difficult to come by today. As I've probed a bit deeper into urban exploration, as it happens, some of the most complex environments requiring study and even human intervention are those that are man made. In many cases, these are not even on the modern map.

A recent Wired article cross-posted on CNN reviewed urban exploration pursuits in New York City, highlighting the work of Will Ellis. Ellis uncovered numerous abandoned spaces throughout the city and draws on them for creative artistic works. Once you're in, you're in - it won't take much digging to also learn about Michael Townsend and his multi-year squat in an undisclosed self-made apartment within the Providence Place Mall. Some may say crazy, though I say a brilliant testament to our general disregard to space, and a marquee demonstration for underground urban explorers everywhere. There are indeed new frontiers for the taking.

While I certainly have my eye on palm trees, flip flops, deep blue water, and some sunshine, it certainly pays to seek the yet discovered right in your own backyard - it may provide some new perspective on what our Earth has become, or is becoming.

Happy Earth Day 2015.

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Waves from Atlantis

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 12:19:00 +0000

For unknown reasons, waves from the Atlantis story have been crashing on my desk the last few days. First, a colleague forwarded me an excerpt from Mark Adams recent book 'Meet me in Atlantis' describing an interview with Greek geophysicist and Atlantean expert Stavros Papamarinopoulos which shed light on a few rather matter of fact considerations about the existence of the lost city from interpretations of Plato's account.

Second was an accidental stumble upon a Nat Geo Channel piece called 'The Truth Behind: Atlantis' which presented the topic for public and popular consumption through a very cursory investigation of both the Bimini Road in the Bahamas, and a variety of Minoan sites in Greece, namely Crete and the island of Santorini.

Lastly was an article on CNN describing the state of Venice, with sea level on the rise and the city itself sinking, creating an imminent threat to losing this coastal historical site - sound familiar?

English: Athanasius Kircher's Map of Atlantis (c.1669). Note that north is at bottom. Latina: Situs Insulae Atlantidis, a Mari olim absorpte ex mente Egyptiorum et Platonis descriptio. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What continues to resonate with me in my own curiosities about Atlantis is the timetable that we are versus what we should be talking about. Events at Santorini and Crete reference the time of the Minoans, say 3500 years before present. The volcanic eruption at Santorini during that time period is said to have caused a major tsunami (for which there is emerging scientific evidence) that wiped out a considerable part of Minoan civilization and was the inspiration for Plato's "story" about Atlantis in his book/dialogue Timaeus.

The source of the hotly debated timetable comes from Plato's reference to events occurring 9000 years before his telling of the story, which puts us about 12,000 years before present. That has spun the heads around of many scholars for centuries, as 12,000 ypb is far before any known civilization that we have actual archaeological evidence to support the existence of. So, if it were wiped out, it was really wiped out - without a trace. This seems highly unlikely to most, as consider that we are able to find scientific evidence of things like dinosaurs from millions of years ago to help recreate a story of our history here on Earth. The fact that we have a considerable information gap is what is so fascinating, and beckons intrigue from a variety of perspectives.

One in-explainable fact is that 'advanced' civilization seemingly sprang up from virtually nothing, and all since Atlantis allegedly disappeared. Where did the technology and intellect come from? Further to that, there are specific devices that leave us at a loss for their direct lineage. As we well know today, innovation is a lengthy and evolving process, and one would expect a lineage of technology prior to defining a specific piece. The perfect example is the Antikythera mechanism. The mechanism is one of those anomalies that begs far more questions than it offers answers.

The questions of the Bimini road is supported with only anecdotal evidence, despite the 'road' being very accessible in shallow water. Where the road fails us is the depth. If we were to rewind history to 12,000 years before present and re-create a world map, our coastlines would look VERY different. Sea level was around 300-400 feet lower than it is today as we were at the last glacial maximum of the Pleistocene. That puts more than 50% of the world's continental shelf in the dry. A seafaring civilization like Atlantis would have lived along the coast - now submerged, far from sight, and difficult to access. Perhaps we haven't yet found concrete evidence because we haven't spent enough time looking in the right place...

Interestingly, today we are faced with very similar circumstances to 12,000 years ago. Sea level is on the rise, in part due to additional glacial retreat, and that means coastal civilization is in trouble. The current state of affairs in Venice should be closely watched by the world, as it will serve as a model for how we preserve other coastal cities. Regardless of Plato's Atlantis being fact or fiction, it is cause to pause and think, and if nothing else should serve as reminder that we are not invincible.

The waves that sank Atlantis have had a rippling effect which ironically may sink us yet again. In all of our greatness, one would think [sarcasm] we're paying enough attention to preserving and protecting the world around us in order to better protect ourselves.

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global warming - at least in Antarctica

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 00:30:00 +0000

I never thought I would read this headline...63 degrees in Antarctica.

Meanwhile here in Rhode Island I woke up to the twenties...still (ugghh). Despite all the griping and groaning about 'global warming' which has been hard to swallow given the winter we've had here in New England, it is certainly fair to say that 'climate change' is real.

As I recall from my brief foray to Antarctica, temps were below zero - certainly far from the 60's. In fact, it may have hit -60 one night. So, what the heck is going on?

Well, this is just the beginning. Planet Earth's scales have tipped in the past, and we may likely be on the eve of yet another tipping point. For a moment, consider the reality of massive melting at the poles...we're talking MAJOR sea level rise with the influx of water, and cold water at that, which shifts the cyclical patterns of the ocean basins and the resulting weather. Perhaps, just perhaps, this is part of what we're seeing now.

I'm certainly not a climatologist or weather expert, but commons sense tells me that these little signs should be taken as warnings. Head for the hills? Perhaps not quite yet. However, it is time to start paying closer attention, and be prepared for the pace of change. It may be that considering a new life in the sea is a viable means, and even necessity, for our sustainability. Maintaining a state of readiness is always the most challenging task when in business and trying to be prepared for the unknown and ever-changing marketplace. Maintaining a state of readiness for our survival will be the greatest challenge in all of human history.

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Living Small

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 02:14:00 +0000

Flipping through Netflix for a Saturday night distraction we came upon the movie 'Tiny: a story about living small'. The film chronicles the journey of building a 'tiny house' of not much more than 100 square feet as a permanent residence. I've been aware of this tiny house movement over the past several years, so it was interesting to learn a bit about the motives of those engaged in this lifestyle.

Among the commonalities between tiny house dwellers was an outwardly vocal position on our state of excess, which frankly doesn't make much sense in terms of quality of life, and perhaps even bigger picture, our [human] sustainability. My fascination with sustainability stems from time spent on Lee Stocking Island, where minimalism was the way of life. I've carried much of that philosophy back home with me, but in practice it is difficult to implement given the demands of a middle class suburban lifestyle - gone are the days of a migrant lifestyle in one's 20's. Living small yet again remains a dream, and perhaps one that will become a reality out of shear necessity.

John Perry Jr. rests in a small undersea dwelling off of Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas. Perhaps decades ahead of his time, Perry developed numerous model technologies that are likely to come full circle in more modern underwater habitation.

I haven't yet evaluated the economics of living small, but I can certainly see the benefits of shaking the mortgage and the big bills in favor of going off the grid. With technology today, its easier than ever to miniaturize and take steps towards self-reliance. In many ways, these life lessons in simplicity can be found with time at sea, where mariners' entire belongings are often found within very tight quarters, and for lengthy blocks of time. The fact that living small may indeed be trickling over to the terrestrial world is encouraging, and offers the promise of returning to life in the sea with the new values needed to make undersea living practical.

The film depicts several tiny homes in the 100 square foot range. Packing all of life's essentials into a 10' x 10' space for comfortable everyday living is a huge step. If we can do it here in the dry, why not in the wet? That area is only about double that of the small portable habitat I developed, which would still be within the range of feasible to secure to the bottom, and reasonable to manage the atmosphere for extended periods of time.

I'm not one to suggest that we should run away from our terrestrial problems in favor of living underwater. However, I do believe that selective environmental pressures and overpopulation are going to lead to the requirement to make better use of subaquatic space in the future. To be successful, we'll need to be ultra-efficient, and there is no better time than now to begin evolving that lineage of efficient technology and living practices.

I'm unsure if a tiny house is in my immediate future, but I can say that I have my sights set on the distant blue horizon; a model of efficiency, an improved life aquatic, and a new life in the sea.

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Exploring the Titanic of the Ancient World | History | Smithsonian

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 15:46:00 +0000

Thank you Smithsonian Magazine for highlighting our #exosuitproject at #Antikythera last fall. History itself marks the repeat cycle of time, and it is the cycle of time, perhaps, that has kept our focus on and at #Antikythera.

Much more work to be done, and secrets will be unveiled... read the article.

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the best of both worlds

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 20:15:00 +0000

Gotta love it - the plan to dive the methane seas of Titan, Saturn's largest moon - in 2040 nonetheless. That's right around the corner in space exploration years!

Despite being in a bit of a science funding slump in recent years, it seems sights are being set on some very bold horizons; manned missions to Mars, and now possibly a dive on Titan.

This is all fantastic, and will do much to spur the imaginations of future explorers, but (the big BUT) what does this say about our ambitions here at home?

I am continually perplexed that we have not yet focused ambitions in exploration here on Earth. The government is risk adverse, and the private sector does what they can, though naturally competition is fierce from a variety of perspectives, leaving much private exploration to grassroots practitioners who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty and feet wet while spilling some serious green. These ventures are often viewed as 'hobbyist' and perhaps not perceived in the serious manner in which they should be. This all takes place while we struggle to find hundreds of thousands to low millions in support of ocean exploration activities that are truly necessary for our own survival.

At the same time, legislation is passed and checks are written for billions spent on space. Important? Absolutely. But what we really need is the best of both worlds - that is singular projects that are out there on the edge that inspire and foster curiosity, while at the same time investing in true capacity building here at home that keeps us out there 'working' routinely. There's nothing worse than losing difficult to acquire skills, and that proficiency is very much needed to make the work out on the edge possible.

Seems logical to me that we should start to embrace an innerspace program as our at home analogue for our outerspace program. If, and when, we do humanity will be on the road to a new future that we've not yet even imagined.

In the meantime, I will start packing my bags for Titan. I'll still have some good working years left in me, and from the perspective of a diver, there's always more to be gained from being there than through the lens of a robot. Now there's the journey of a lifetime...

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sunday; snowy sunday...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 02:40:00 +0000

Talk about the woes of winter - this one can't come to an end soon enough. With seemingly every weekend being buried with snow, there hasn't been much time freed up to stay on top of proficiency dives and new experimental techniques which had been the weekend norm for about the last year. This has been frustrating to say the least.

I can deal with the cold, its the immobility from being snowed in that gets to me. While I'm probably starting to sound like the whining of the masses that have all been trapped this winter, I suppose a positive thing that arose was a reminder of just how powerful water is in its solid form - ICE.

Like many in the neighborhood, the effects of ice damage on and in the house are starting to manifest themselves. Minor leaks, busted siding, creaking rooftops, ice dams on the roof, and it goes on. As critical as water is to our survival, it is also an incredibly destructive force. As I spent the day clearing ice and snow from a few critical places on the roof, and addressing some interior leaks (ugghh), I was reminded of my experiences in Antarctica.

A 'pressure ridge' over the Antarctic sea ice, formed from rifts in the annual sea ice pushing up on one another; not unlike plate tectonics at work. Photo by M. Lombardi 2002.

When we hear of the 'extremes' of the poles, its not just about the cold - it's about the extremely complex environment created by the interface of sub zero air temperature, below freezing water temperature, and an air-water interface often lined by ICE. Ice is so very powerful. It's heavy, can expand and contract, take the shape of its surroundings, and place immense pressure on surfaces that it interfaces with.

In times where discussions weigh heavily on global warming [or rather, climate change], its a bit ironic to be talking about the threat of ice, though in my perspective the shift in seasonal variation we're seeing, coupled with radical change at the poles is the tell-all that climate change is real and we've got problems. Anyway, just as coastal communities have to deal with rising tides, the power of water can and does take its toll in other forms throughout the world - and with just as much of an impact.

Even more the reason to find a new balance of our relationship with this Blue Planet and its resources. Rather than fend off or fight the environment, we should learn how to embrace it in an environmentally conscious and responsible way.

As much as I'd love to return to Antarctica for another wave of scientific and self-study, I'm about ready for a wave of sunshine first. And when we get it here in New England, it will undoubtedly be time to write about flooding...

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out of sight, but definitely on my mind

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 20:00:00 +0000

Hmm...every once in a while a news piece shines some light through the darkness that seems to prevail these days and, if nothing else, makes you think about the ever so important big picture.

The recent report of fisherman taking up what may be a 200,000 year old hominid jaw bone (from a potentially new species) off the coast of Taiwan certainly speaks to that state of inquiry.

What jumps out at me is the location of the discovery - dredged up some 15 miles offshore.

These are the types of discoveries that cross a desk out of pure luck and good fortune, and leave massive questions to be answered before the details can even begin to be addressed - a scientist's dream for certain.

How did this fossil end up 15 miles offshore? Was this 'washed' away in a prehistoric flood? Was it exactly where the creature perished, possible marking a previous sea level? Are there other associated fossils at this same location that warrant survey and further excavation?

It goes on and on.

Most importantly, to me anyway, is that such a major discovery being made in a place that is so far out of sight is ever-more justification that very pure exploration [within the out of sight part of our planet] - though of course guided by sound scientific inquiry - is very much needed to better understand the world around us, and indeed where we came from. In the end, it is this new found knowledge that will ultimately help us in better understanding ourselves, and contribute to any possibility of our future sustainability.

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Maslow revisited

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 01:43:00 +0000

Some 15 years ago I was entrenched in studies to become a diving instructor when introduced to 'Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs' by the individual teaching my course. Having just been ever so briefly introduced to this theory, its implications didn't quite register. I did get the take home message of the day, which was that diving requires high performance, and we cannot perform to our highest potential if our basic human needs are challenged. Further to that, while diving, we are dependent on an artificial means to breathe, challenging the most fundamental human need right off the bat.

Diagram of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Conquer the compromise that artificial life support imposes and then further realize self-actualization, and we're really on to something...

We all face this in similar ways each and every day. Rather than grinding through the stress to just make the most of the situation, I've found that making a conscious effort to mitigate fundamental stressors over the long term has provided for a consistently elevated level of performance. As I've been able to take better care of myself, I've been able to better perform and be consistently more productive, and at what seems to be far higher cognitive and intellectual levels. All critically important as we maneuver to advance this life aquatic.

For instance, during some of the deeper dives I've done, I've made months worth of preparations - perhaps not entirely because the dives were that complex, but rather I had to prepare myself to perform with acute clarity and focus while my basic needs (breathing) are challenged, and at the same time psychologically accepting that I was almost 15 atmospheres away from home. Operating anywhere on the pyramid but the top would have been recipe for disaster.

So, who was this Maslow guy?

Maslow is best known for his proposed Hierarchy of Needs, suggesting that people are motivated to fulfill certain needs, which can be broken into five principle layers (per above pyramid).

The fundamental concept is that lower level basic needs must be met before progressing on to meet higher level growth needs. Once these needs have been reasonably met, one may be able to reach the highest level called self-actualization. Every person is capable and has the desire to move towards realizing self-actualization. Life experiences, both in short and long timescales can disrupt progress.

Maslow noted that one in a hundred people become fully self-actualized because our society rewards motivation primarily based on esteem, love and other social needs which are mid-way up the pyramid.

So why reach for the top?

I tend to believe that people have far greater capabilities than we live up to on a day to day basis. Being given the opportunity to realize these capabilities comes from both the desire to get there, and in many cases, perhaps some serendipitous alignment. In my opinion anyway, the most important piece is keeping in tune with the world as it turns - the path will reveal itself.

Well, enough of my motivational speaking for one night. What's all this have to do with human exploration? Well to sum it up - there are entirely new dimensions of space right here on Earth that we just don't yet have routine access to. To get there, we need to perform at our best, which means operating at an elevated capacity, and that means taking care of oneself, and perhaps most importantly - one another.

Time to get back at it.

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"the poor have it easy"

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 23:17:00 +0000

I've had my nose to the ground for all of 2014, and no sooner do I look up to check my direction when 2015 makes its splash. Where did the year go?

As I reflect back on what my peers have suggested was an incredibly successful 2014, despite my being a bit hypercritical of 'progress', I think I've finally come to terms with how to make the most of this passage of time that we are reminded of this time of year...the bottom line - treat life as the journey that it is rather than get hung up on the rather small steps we take in meeting short term goals or ambitions.

So, what will 2015 bring? Well, I just don't know - but the journey is sure to continue.

Amidst what one may call a holiday season 'funk' (probably due to being somewhat stuck indoors given the cold), I've taken a short break from creative writing here on 'a New Life' to rethink and re-purpose. As I've pondered here a very many times, it all comes back to the quest to better understand 'why are we here?'. Ahh, what's it all mean, and why bother?

That revolving thought brought me to pause after reading a recent CNN article that discusses the bit of a rift that we have arrived at between the wealthy and the poor, with the punchline being "the poor have it easy" in referring to their dependence on government subsidy to get by. As easy as it is to criticize from my middle class ring side seat, the rift, as I see it, is due almost exclusively to a very westernized philosophy of 'more is better'. The land of the free, home of the brave, and closet full of toys (for both the big one and wee ones). Somewhere along the way our society decided that more was better, as if it is some sort of game to attain wealth, belongings, and some perception of power that comes with that.

In reality, short of completely reworking our monetary system to level the playing field, what needs to be recognized is that its not power that comes with 'more'; it is responsibility.

Do I believe in hand-outs? No, not necessarily. But I do believe in making the world turn, ideally in a positive direction, which means change, and making progress. Progress towards what? Well, therein lies the big question yet again, why are we here?

To me, progress can only be made by closing up the rift. Those with the 'power' to make progress also very much have the responsibility to make progress. That doesn't mean hand-outs and giving it all away, but it does mean making socially responsible investments.

Enter the era of social enterprise.

As I've accepted the journey moreso than some grandiose end-game, I've found a very humble place here in the middle of the road. I am by no means wealthy, but do well enough to provide for my family, and plan for the future. Ever since my time living in the islands, I've embraced a degree of minimalism, which means every sliver of 'excess' makes me cringe...it has also lead me down a road of philanthropy, where I find much more enjoyment out of doing something constructive with both my time and money that helps make progress (not necessarily generate individual wealth).

I was once asked by what I would do with a million dollars (by someone with the ability to write the check if so desired). In the journey that I'm on, I could do a little with a little, or a lot with a lot. My answer today - I'd reinvest it all in a socially responsible manner, help close that rift in at least my little corner of the world, and make progress. Ideally that would inspire others to do the same, as that is exactly what it will take to realize a peaceful, non-violent, and more utopian world to live in.

After all, what else do we really have to work for?

To all, I wish you a Happy and Healthy New Year, and remember that the journey we're all on is the gift that keeps us ever evolving, and making waves for 'a new life in the sea'.

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Now here's some news...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 01:20:00 +0000

This excites me and gives me hope for a future life aquatic - Bruce Cantrell and Jessica Fain just recently surfaced from a record-breaking 73 day stay underwater at Jules Undersea Lodge in the Florida Keys. The mission marked an ambitious effort to reach out, engage, and educate, all from an alien world that rests literally in our backyard. More on the project can be found here: https://www.roanestate.edu/classroomunderthesea/project.asp.

Interestingly, the project comes on the heels of Fabien Cousteau's recent Mission 31, a 31 day stay at the Aquarius Reef Base Habitat, also in the Florida Keys. The Cousteau project was lined with controversy within the professional community given claims to 'records' and the underlying motives and value in the project. Nevertheless, the effort did shed some new light on underwater living.

I've been partial to Bruce and Jessica's effort, coming in at a fraction of the cost of Mission 31, carried out in a very grassroots manner, and stands to substantiate that we all have the capacity to make a splash in ocean science and exploration in our own and very important ways. Congrats again Jessica and Bruce!

Are we at the cusp of another push in undersea habitation? Well, perhaps not necessarily. There are still numerous outstanding issues in saturation diving, not the least of which is human physiology and related health, both long and short term. There also remain questions of the of remaining at one single study site for any length of time, when today's scientist often wants to be mobile and versatile, responding quickly to new geographical interests. By contrast to permanent habitat are mobile sat systems used more typically in deep commercial diving. Both technologies come at an expense that is not sustainable for the masses.

There are indeed alternatives - we'll just have to keep fighting the uphill battle :)

In the meantime, 74 days anyone?

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Related articles

Cultural Changes in Diving, a response

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 12:31:00 +0000

Having just read Travis Detke's welcoming editorial in the recent Ocean News & Technology magazine (December 2014), I feel compelled to respond. The short is well written, and frankly hits the nail on the head in identifying the current state of the aquatic state.

Two points resonated most, where:

1. both the physics and physiology of diving have not changes.
2. performance pressure, today, includes safety awareness (moreso than in the past).

On the latter, generally I believe this to be a good thing, as emphasis on safety - namely protecting the human - is paramount to justify ongoing investment into human intervention, be it for industry, science, sport, or other. I have personally seen a few sides of this, having spent well over a decade working for small contractors where job performance is often pushed to the point of potentially compromising safety to achieve work objectives in short time frames (to increase profits); and more recently working for a larger corporation that prides itself on safe practices and pricing projects appropriately to include the safest means to perform.

As I've let's say 'matured' in my diving career, I've become more risk adverse, however am still deeply intrigued by working 'out on the edge'. With that inquisition comes a commitment to evaluate new practices, and in many cases develop or adopt new technology - all to, ultimately, improve safe human performance.

On the former point - of physics and physiology - indeed these have not changed, perhaps albeit ever so undetectably slow as we humans continue in our natural course of evolution. While we must surely make investments and cultural change to improve safe practices, we must be careful as to not box ourselves in with fear of the unknown. This doesn't speak to 'stunts' or 'extremism', rather logical deductive evolutions of advancement. This happens in all fields, and it should happen in diving as well.

This evolution comes back to the two fundamental challenges in diving, and deeper diving: we either need to evolve the human, or protect the human from the environment. By playing somewhere in between, we are subject to the mass of complications that we call the diving industry today. Generally, I think we've done a pretty good job with what we've got, but surely it can't hurt to continue to understand limitations (both perceived and real), and make sound investments to continue to nudge our little species towards its sustainable future - a new life in the sea.

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Step aside Mr. Turkey, make room for Black Beans...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 00:54:00 +0000

Well, it's that time of year yet again. As the holidays bring us all together to eat big and partake in the typical holiday camaraderie, it can prove to be a rather distracting period of time for the serial entrepreneur.

This Thanksgiving weekend, I kept my eye on the ball and managed to take advantage of some time at the shop, and then headed out for a dive today to evaluate a new piece of equipment I've been developing. Beautiful dive - visibility is clearing up here in Rhode Island, per usual, though with that comes the chilly water.

Anyway, per my usual Thanksgiving weekend Blogging endeavors, this is my once per year shameless plug for my book 'Black Beans, Mean Business'. This is the perfect stocking stuffer for anyone out there with aspirations to trek out into a new venture, or just cook up a good meal.

I am proud to say that we have now reached double digit sales. Help us march forward towards triple digits! This one is a real page turner folks. Get yours today!

Enjoy...

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a VERY brief visit to Hong Kong

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 00:07:00 +0000

As I made my way through airport security in Boston, a few things hit me. First, it dawned on me that I’ve barely recovered from the lengthy travel during the recent #exosuitproject at #Antikythera in Greece. Second was that for some reason, the travel process was smoother than ever – perhaps a function of both routine and repetitive recent experience, but also that the entire airport experience did seem to smooth itself out. Security was almost too efficient, leaving me shoeless, beltless, and somewhat a disheveled mess as I was shuffled through in what seemed to be hyperspeed.

Nevertheless, the connection through JFK was equally smooth, and so I was on my way to Hong Kong via a 16 hour non-stop journey. I ate well, slept well, was relatively well entertained with a few movies, did more catch-up office work than I had in weeks, and so there I was – the international business traveler. I guess this is how they all do it, and how I now have to do it while riding in the wake of kids, a house, a fulltime job, and still trying to live the dream one day at a time.

I was invited to Hong Kong by Dr. Leo Chan of the State Key Laboratory for Marine Pollution at the City University of Hong Kong. His students greeted me at the airport, and helped me get settled in for the night at the University. While jet lagged, the hospitality was warmly welcomed, and that persisted throughout my short visit...I am looking forward to developing future collaborations here in Hong Kong.

Seafood - this is what it's all about in Hong Kong. Photo by M. Lombardi 2014.

The visit was a bit of a brief information exchange, where I presented a lecture about advanced and deep scientific diving, focusing on our recent work with the Exosuit, and Dr. Chan shared his work in marine pollution, particularly as it applies to human health and sustainable seafood. I’ve always been particularly attracted to science and scientists that can well communicate how their work comes full circle to ultimately improve our quality of life. The work here at CityU does all of that, and is on the verge of a taking a new bold step in a leadership role in scientific diving, and at a national scale. The critical importance of placing the human within the environment to interpret that space and formulate new scientific inquiry is well appreciated in Hong Kong, and is emerging in China, and a direction that I’m eager to support however possible.

While a whirlwind visit, I was able to take a brief stroll through downtown Hong Kong. It’s a busy place, and struck me as analogous to New York City. Lots of people, lots of lights, and lots of action. We walked through ‘occupy Hong Kong’, the local movement that the US nightly news has portrayed as a hot zone for violence in recent months. In my opinion, while yes, the people participating in the movement have taken a strong stand, it is not unlike protests back in the US and elsewhere - the violence is certainly not sought after. Things can and have escalated, but again, not unlike similar demonstrations back at home.

Hong Kong also struck me as a very ‘vertical’ city. They build up, and in a big way. Interestingly, the population center of Honk Kong only accounts for 30% of the city’s land area. The balance 70% is protected habitat. That is truly amazing, and speaks to the commitment to the environment and appreciation for the value of its natural resources.

Also somewhat striking is the apparent ambition of the people at the University. Those few I interacted with are hungry to succeed, and it seems to me that the government puts resources in place to foster that success. That is a very encouraging model to see, and stark contract to other places I’ve visited.

Next stop Xiamen for a few days, then the return journey home, only for a quick turn around for some field time in New York. What a run…

The author would like to acknowledge the City University of Hong Kong and the J.F. White Contracting Company for making this visit possible; and the generosity of Dr. Leo Chan throughout the visit.

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'Falling' in at Ft. Wetherill

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 14:40:00 +0000

Having more completely off-gassed from the three week #Antikythera #exosuitproject in Greece, I felt I had a much needed obligation to realign myself with a quick dive here at home. With kids in the mix, that means a constant shuffle to do anything much 'fun' for yourself, so I made a very early start (everyone still sleeping) and got to Ft. Wetherill in Jamestown, Rhode Island before sunrise.

Fall had clearly set in..the morning air was crisp, and I could see a wintry sky out there on the horizon as the sun just started to creep up. Conditions were suboptimal, with wind blowing into both coves, so there was a bit of a washing machine happening. I knew visibility would be poor, nevertheless I pulled up my wetsuit, which alone was a refreshing reminder of why I love what I do. The familiar smell of musty neoprene first thing in the morning is one of those subtleties that only us living the life aquatic can truly appreciate.

I managed to get geared up and in the water before the sun was up, so coupled with the churned up bottom, it may as well have been a night dive. I swam out into thirty or so feet of water, found a bit of a rock ledge to nestle myself up to and shut off the lights. The rock walls were silhouetted nicely against the moonlight backdrop. There I just waited patiently for the sun to rise fully and observed the benthos come to life. Truly spectacular.

It's a rare occasion that I get out there for a 'fun' dive, but as life gets progressively more complicated, I've found that its necessary to make a splash every now again, even a short and sweet one, to find a renewed appreciation for why it is that we do what we do...to find solace in our relationship with our Blue Planet, and consider our future with 'a New Life in the Sea'.

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Home sweet home | #exosuitproject returns from #antikythera

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 17:54:00 +0000

Wow, what a stretch - despite Greece being a new work locale for me, the start of the 'Return to Antikythera' expedition set in as old hat. As these things go, challenges are defined, solutions are identified, and then it comes down to putting together all the pieces with a degree of flexibility to meet the challenges.

Despite all the flag waving and publicity that the project managed to muster, particularly with the excitement of the Exosuit making its debut work performance for science, for me the most important element of the project was appreciating the depth of national pride that this effort brought to the country of Greece and its people.

The Greek Navy, who we worked very closely with aboard the vessel 'Thetis' to stage the Exosuit operation, met us with a warm welcome, and were so very proud to be engaged in this technical demonstration. As I later learned, there is a bit of a rivalry with their neighboring Turkish Navy, who operates a Hardsuit program for deep water tasks. Being able to supervise Fotis Lazarou's (Greek Navy Diver) Exosuit dive, which was the deepest made at the Antikythera site, was in my opinion one of the proudest moments of the project. This was also a challenge - I trained Lazarou on the suit at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in the spring, and evident at that time was the challenge of working through language barriers with technical information. The enthusiasm of the Greek team pushed it all through however, and we both worked together to communicate through these barriers and make it all happen. In the end, the common language of the life aquatic - depth, time, pressure - became readily understood out of shear necessity.

A few project press links:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2786434/Search-ancient-underwater-computer-begins-Archaeologists-wear-Exosuit-rummage-2-200-year-old-shipwreck.html
http://news.yahoo.com/exosuit-gets-wet-quest-buried-shipwreck-treasure-143236979.html
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/expeditions/2014/10/08/return-to-the-antikythera-shipwreck-the-first-mission-for-exosuit/

What's next? Well, several exciting finds were made at the research site including an array of Bronze age artifacts which substantiate further excavation as it is clearly evident that high value antiquities remain concealed at the site. What remains a challenge is realizing the massive amount of time at depth to carry out a careful excavation across the full scale of the wreck site - which is now believed to be significantly larger than previously documented.

While weather severely limited the extent of Exosuit operations this year, I think the entire team is convinced that this remains the safest means to be productive over lengthy blocks of time at the study site. Future work with the Exosuit at Antikythera is certainly on the horizon, and will remain a topic for discussion over the coming months.

The 'Return to Antikythera' project was jointly organized by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The author acknowledges the J.F. White Contracting Company for their forward looking investment into making the Exosuit ADS available for scientific programs, and for Hublot, the Swiss watchmaker, for sponsoring the Exosuit operation at Antikythera.

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Antikythera mechanism expedition begins search for missing fragments of world’s oldest known computer

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 16:51:00 +0000

Nice recent article about the forthcoming #exosuitproject mission to #Antikythera. Will be en route in just a few days.

Antikythera mechanism expedition begins search for missing fragments of world’s oldest known computer.

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2014 #Exosuitproject Expedition | Return to #Antikythera

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 15:30:00 +0000

In just a couple of short weeks, we're off on the Return to Antikythera Expedition. This year's project has been in development for over a year, and builds on work dating to the very early 20th century when the Bronze age wreck site was first discovered by Greek sponge divers.

Over the past several months, I have had the fortunate pleasure of working with the team members of this 2014 Antikythera Expedition including the Chief Scientist, Brendan Foley, his colleagues from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, and representatives of the Greek Navy, training them on use of the Exosuit ADS for this year's archaeological mission.

The Mission
The mission for this fall - dive, dive, dive, and accumulate as many up close and personal hours on the wreck site as humanly possible. At depths of 60 to 100 meters, the site is indeed within more conventional reach, however productive bottom time for the working scientists has remained a bottleneck. The Exosuit will likely solve that problem, and afford unparalleled interpretation of the site by the team's archaeologists to guide further detailed survey and excavation. It is anticipated that one week of Exosuit operations will provide for more bottom time at this site than has ever been conducted. That alone opens up the promise for new discoveries - perhaps even a new Antikythera Mechanism.

In Context
The Antikythera mechanism itself has been a focal point of study, and even an obsession, by scholars for more than a century, as it stands alone separated by over a thousand years of lost art before comparable innovations are reintroduced to modern civilization. Where did it come from?

As our new friends at the Greek Navy have indicated, diving is a central element to Greek culture, and putting the Exosuit to work for the first time in Greece while expanding upon a lineage of archaeological work that so deeply impacts their cultural heritage, this project will likely resonate for decades. I am actually more excited about the social and cultural exchange on this expedition than the diving - and that's a bold statement coming from yours truly.

More Information
More information can be found on the 2014 Return to Antikythera Expedition, and the history of Antikythera itself here:

The Video

Mission Content

The author acknowledges the J.F. White Contracting Company for reaching out to the science community to afford new opportunities for discovery with the Exosuit, and Hublot for their sponsorship of the Exosuit operation. More about the the Return to Antikythera Project can be found here: http://antikythera.whoi.edu/.

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Lessons From The Last Time Civilization Collapsed

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 01:57:00 +0000

This recent book review on NPR seemed to resonate a bit given the state of the world we are finding ourselves in: 1177BC, The Year Civilization Collapsed.

It is an absolute truth that history repeats itself, as we are simply recycling matter and energy within a finite sphere. Sure, with time, this is shifted and swayed, but the laws of physics that we are ultimately governed by tend to reveal patterns at all scales - the discovery of which we humans refer to as 'science'.

Philosophy aside, 'we' indeed have to start taking a serious look at the world around us, as the consequences of our own actions are putting such a strain on humanity that the breaking point may well be on a nearer horizon than we'd all hope to see. As I sit here writing, I have the news on in the background to get caught up on world events, and what comes through in all of it is unrest, and at all scales. People are not happy, which means energy is shifting towards change. Change can be good, or change can be bad. Understanding the consequences of such change is what is most critical such that actions taken can steer us in the right direction.

For the masses, people tend to go for the ride. Its strong leadership that can ultimately drive the bus, but that has to be leadership both behind the needs of our sustainable existence, and maintaining some degree of peace. Today that may well be much harder than in 1177 BC, as we're extremely pressed for resources given the massive size of our population. Biology tells us that only the strongest survive - that may well be a reality.

I don't want to stray into the realm of doomsday conspiracies and the like, but consider that if you are feeling the stress of modern times, it is indeed stress that needs attention and in the end no one can do anything about it but you.

Could we go down again? Yes. Will we? Absolutely yes if we don't start taking care of ourselves and start listening to the world around us. Interestingly, we only know about one major civilization's fall previously, though there are stories of a major collapse prior to that which left no signs or traces of what was likely the seed of it all. What's important today is to preserve that which will lead to future sustainability. Does it matter in the end? I guess I can't answer that one here in a brief Blog post, but it would be incredibly selfish to take advantage of this ride without giving back just a little bit.

Think globally, act locally; go big, or go home.

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Antikythera | Diving through Time

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 18:24:00 +0000

The last several months, and particularly the past couple of weeks have been nothing short of mind numbing...in hindsight, in my opinion anyway, bringing the Exosuit full online and science-mission ready has been nothing short of a monumental task in a relatively short timeframe. While one mission has been triaged for a short time, mission #2 is fast approaching: the Return to Antikythera.

Among the fortunate few who have had the opportunity to work with the suit at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution this spring and summer were the team members of this 2014 Antikythera Expedition. I had the fortunate opportunity to train the Chief Scientist, Brendan Foley, his colleagues from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, and representatives of the Greek Navy, in prep for this fall's project.

The mission for this fall - dive, dive, dive, and accumulate as many up close and personal hours on the wreck site as humanly possible. At depths of 60 to 100 meters, the site is indeed within more conventional reach, however productive bottom time for the working scientists has remained a bottleneck. The Exosuit will likely solve that problem, and afford unparalleled interpretation of the site by the team's archaeologists to guide further detailed survey and excavation. It is anticipated that one week of Exosuit operations will provide for more bottom time at this site than has ever been conducted. That alone opens up the promise for new discoveries - perhaps even a new Antikythera Mechanism.

While at Woods Hole, we also discussed the potential need to carefully collect artifacts. This was a challenge in advance preparations, as we just aren't sure what type of artifacts or antiquities may need to be collected - big, small, buried, tough, or fragile - this remains a question mark. Given these varied anticipated items, on one 2.5 hour proficiency dive, I focused my effort on working 'belly down' and within a very small area, simply crab walking using my arms and manipulators, and doing some selective sampling of various rocks and other items on the bottom. I was very pleased with the results in that staying belly down, with my face very close to the work, and being able to selectively sample with some degree of grace was just one reassuring demonstration that ADS may offer the versatility needed for the job - again 'the Human Element' at work and far superseding the capabilities of submersibles and other robotics.

The Antikythera mechanism itself has been a focal point of study, and even an obsession, by scholars for more than a century, as it stands alone separated by over a thousand years of lost art before comparable innovations are reintroduced to modern civilization. Where did it come from?

As our new friends at the Greek Navy have indicated, diving is a central element to Greek culture, and putting the Exosuit to work for the first time in Greece while expanding upon a lineage of archaeological work that so deeply impacts their cultural heritage, this project will likely resonate for decades. I am actually more excited about the social and cultural exchange on this expedition than the diving - and that's a bold statement coming from yours truly.

With the equipment loaded up and now en route across the Atlantic, we're winding down mission planning to ensure a safe and productive few weeks on site. While I usually spend time with the biology crowd, I must say that I am looking forward to dipping my toe into underwater archaeology.

In the coming weeks, I'll be sharing various dispatches from this epic journey to Antikythera, as we dive through time to reveal something about our past, our present, and quite likely our future.

The author acknowledges the J.F. White Contracting Company for reaching out to the science community to afford new opportunities for discovery with the Exosuit, and Hublot for their sponsorship of the Exosuit operation. More about the the Return to Antikythera Project can be found here: http://antikythera.whoi.edu/.

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