Ron Peters asks: All the world is currently watching the adventures of the crew of the ISS and the shuttle in space. We watch with eager anticipation as the astronauts work to attach the Japanese Research module, and of course while the labor to repair the “space toilet”.
During the period between the mid to late 1960s to the early 1980s the world was enamored with in situ exploration of our worlds oceans. At any one time there were several underwater habitats in operation being operated by both governments and private organizations and for various purposes. This was during a time when space exploration was also in “high gear”.
Now there is only one “open ocean” underwater lab (Aquarius) and two other privately operated underwater facilities located in a lagoon in Key Largo (Jules’ & MarineLab, MRDF).
Why do you suppose that this is so? Given that we know more about other planets and surviving in space than we do about our own oceans.
As an avid diver and explorer, I support your efforts 100%. As someone who has had some experience in undersea habitat operations, I know that with our current knowledge and technology, undersea research of this type can be done both efficiently and effectively. Even more so than space exploration can be done. And with our improved understanding of saturation diving and surviving in the hyperbaric environment, all of this can be done with a greater degree of safety.
What can we do to re-stimulate interest in undersea research? Do not mis-understand me, please. I take nothing away from NASA and other countries in their efforts to explore space. But, shouldn’t we also be exerting at least as much effort in exploring and understanding our own planet as well?
What, in your opinion, can we do to generate greater support for your mission?
Dear Ron
Thank you so much for your enthusiastic support and desire to help. What we need are more people like you! Unfortunately, underwater technology, research, and exploration have not been a priority in the US for years….even though the ocean covers so much of our planet and is so critical to life on earth and the well-being of society.
We need people to tell their political representatives that the ocean and undersea research is important, relevant, and exciting. We also need to get that message to the media so that they will cover it more frequently and in the same vein as the space program. Along with a public outcry, strong leadership at the top could and would change things!
There is so much still to be learned about the ocean and with the impacts of climate change, overfishing, pollution, harmful algal blooms, marine debris, invasive species, habitat loss…and the list goes on, it is critical that we better understand what is happening in the ocean and in specific habitats like the coral reefs that we focus on and try to come up with solutions….not just for the ocean, but for people and society!
Thanks again, and continue to spread the word.
Dr. Ellen Prager
Chief Scientist, Aquarius Reef Base
Richard asks: If there is a storm above Aquarius with high waves overhead, Does that high wave cause an increase in water pressure and does the livel in the moon pool rise and fall?
Dear Richard
You are correct, the height of the waves overhead affects the pressure at depth, and the change is sometimes very noticeable to the aquanauts. Because Aquarius is constantly adding air for atmospheric makeup, the water level is kept at the bottom edge of the wet porch. If we were to shut off our constant vent, each large wave would “burp off” some of the air inside, and the water level would creep up. You may see that burping at times on the web cams, in fact a diver entering the wet porch will also displace air, some of us more than others unfortunately! Sometimes when we return after a non-mission weekend that included 4-6′ or higher waves, we might find the water level up 18″ or so, but it would need to rise far greater than that to get up to the wet porch floor. Throughout the mission you can notice the tidal changes as well, with the depth changing from 43 to 47 fsw on our Labview monitoring back at the Watch Desk. One thing that happens during missions with waves in excess of 6-7′ is that aquanauts notice the change in pressure with a constant ear popping, so in those cases we close the wet porch door and allow the change to vent through an open equalization valve, that dampens the effect of the pressure change and allows the aquanauts to sleep more comfortably. When it does get rough, the swoosh of air burping out of Aquarius is the first sign before “Topside” has to tell you the seas are getting rough.
Thanks for that question Richard, hopefully we’ll have calm seas for the science mission starting June 10.
Craig Cooper
Operations Director
Jamie asks: what do you eat when you are down there?
Dear Jamie
Because aquanauts live in a high pressure environment in the Aquarius undersea habitat, there is no stove or oven because of safety issues, but there is an instant hot water maker, microwave, and cooler (not quite a refrigerator). Most meals are rehydrated camping type food - just add hot water, much like what the astronauts also eat. Many of our staff are also particularly fond of tortilla wraps and we all love to munch on a few chocolate M & Ms between dives. On special occasions the aquanauts are treated to a diver delivery. During one of my missions we had a diver delivered pizza - though it did not taste all that great in Aquarius because for some poorly understood reason our tastebuds don’t seem to work all that well and most things tend to taste rather bland. But the view while dining is spectacular!
Thanks for the question….stay tuned, the next mission starts in about two weeks!
Ellen Prager, PhD
Chief Scientist, Aquarius Reef Base
Ron Peters asks: Concerning your Inspiration rebreathers, how is the ease of breathing affected with respect to body position (heads up/ inverted/heads down attitudes). Also, I see by your recent blog that you are using full face masks with these units. How is the breathing affected by using the full face mask?
Dear Ron
Most people don’t notice a change in breathing resistance regardless of body position. I didn’t notice any change either. This is mostly due to the position of the counter lungs. They are more naturally positioned in relation to our lungs. No change was noted using the full face mask.
Roger Garcia
Diving Safety Officer / CHT
NOAA Undersea Research Center / Aquarius
Ron Peters asks: Just noticed three of your divers exiting the habitat. What rebreathers are they using. Are they CCR? Why did you select these particular units?
Dear Ron,
The rebreather is the Inspiration with the vision electronics.
Yes, it’s a closed circuit rebreather (CCR)
We chose the Inspiration mainly because the company, Ambient Pressure Diving (APD) was confident it could modify the existing “on board” computer and software to calibrate during saturation. The modification also allows us to turn the computer off during saturation. All dive computers do not allow a diver to turn it off during a dive… i.e. saturation.
There were other reasons too, like the canister duration and the ability to see how much CO2 absorbent was being consumed so to speak, due to it’s temperature stick inside the CO2 canister…
Roger Garcia
Diving Safety Officer, Aquarius Reef Base
Related Links
Mission Summary
Aquanaut Profiles