Exploring Volcanoes to Save Lives

Last month BME's co-founder and Chief Explorer, Scott Parazynski, participated in an incredible expedition led by Sam Cossman of Qwake. The team went where no human being had ever gone before--into the mouth of an active volcano--to deploy innovative technology that could provide an early-warning system for millions of people.

Sponsored by General Electric, the expedition focused on the Masaya volcano in Nicaragua. The team consisted of explorers, scientists, filmmakers, and riggers, who ensured everyone's safety while lowering them into the volcano.

Over the course of several weeks, the team made several descents to "Level 0", just above the molten lava, to deploy a network of sensors that will "connect" the volcano for scientists to study and evaluate. Once activated, the network will help provide advance notice of potential eruptions to the millions of Nicaraguans who live near the volcano.

The Qwake team is currently working on a documentary to showcase their work at the volcano, so stay tuned for exciting footage coming out soon!

[All photos courtesy of Qwake]

Exploring the World with Luminox

We are truly excited to welcome Luminox as the official watch of our Plunge Into The Abyss expedition!

From the first time we dove in a deep submersible beyond depths where sunlight could penetrate, we knew that we would have to find a watch that could operate in those rigorous conditions. After all, precise timing of underwater operations can mean the difference between life and death, but in the darkness of the deep ocean we needed to preserve our night vision. We experimented with several different time-keeping devices before our friend and fellow explorer Scott Cassell introduced us to Luminox in 2010. One dive wearing a Luminox watch, and we were hooked!

Luminox combines the best of two worlds: traditional Swiss watch-making craftsmanship and practical operational excellence for field work in extreme environments. Their “Always On” self-powered illumination system makes watches more visible and easier to read in low or no light situations. This is perfect for military and law enforcement uses. Of course, it also makes their watches “Essential Gear” for exploring extreme environments … like the oceans and space.

We greatly appreciate the support that the entire Luminox team has shown us in the past, and we look forward to working with them on many expeditions!

SeaOrbiter: Space Station of the Sea

I would like to tell you about a project that I imagined thanks to the influence of legendary explorers such as Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Jacques Piccard. Indeed, this project is placing exploration of the still widely unknown aquatic realm at the center of its concerns. This project is called SeaOrbiter and it is the culmination of 30 years of innovative research and work based on bionic architecture inspired by marine forms and a concern for sustainable development.

SeaOrbiter is an exploration vessel as well as a scientific laboratory dedicated to the discovery of the underwater world and the education around sustainable development applied to the ocean.

Weighing in at approximately 500 tons of recyclable aluminum, the semi-submersible SeaOrbiter will drift silently across the ocean, aided by a small propulsion system, and support the crow’s nest and the suite of communications systems that will allow the team to broadcast their adventures live.

The Eye of the SeaOrbiter will be 18 meters (59 ft) high above the surface of the sea, with the overall vessel measuring 58 meters (190 ft). It will support the crow’s nest and the suite of communications systems that will allow the team to broadcast their adventures live. Life aboard, explorations, discoveries, and great scientific advancements will all be documented through the Eye’s technological prowess.

In order for the project to become a reality, we launched in November 2013 a crowdfunding campaign on KissKissBankBank to finance the construction of the ‘Eye’ of the vessel, to start in spring 2014.

The ocean is the heart of the solar system. It is at once the motor and the lungs of our planet. We must reinstate the ocean as the center of our daily lives. We want to make way for a new global socio-economic model which integrates the ocean in a responsible, sustainable manner, as the principal source of innovation and solutions. Medicine, nutrition, pharmacology, renewable energy-- the SeaOrbiter can help us improve these for the betterment of our planet.

Thanks to the help of the public, we rely on all sea lovers, adventure and innovation enthusiasts to help us build SeaOrbiter. Each contribution counts; support SeaOrbiter on KissKissBankBank and follow the project on Twitter @Sea_Orbiter.

Photo credits: SeaOrbiter® / Jacques Rougerie

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Contributed by Jacques Rougerie Architect SeaOrbiter Paris, France

Adventures of an Aquanaut:Exploration to Inspire STEM Learning

It has been exactly 10 years since I fulfilled a childhood dream of visiting Antarctica.

As an Antarctic Studies student at the University of Canterbury, I was given the opportunity to spend two weeks at New Zealand’s Scott Base on Ross Island. This internationally competitive postgraduate course provided first-hand experience of living and working in the extreme polar environment.

It was a life-changing event that ignited my passion to inspire the public, particularly young people, to live more sustainably and harmoniously. Rather than pursue a Research Higher Degree, I returned home to Australia with the idea of using unusual exploration initiatives to inspire STEM learning.

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BioSUB

Funding for my first initiative, the BioSUB Project, was provided through a $50,000 sponsorship prize I won in the Australian Geographic 'Live your dream' Wildest Adventure Competition. My idea was to spend two weeks living in an underwater capsule at the bottom of a lake in a one-of-a-kind science adventure. Making headlines around the world, the BioSUB was a great success and a real labor of love for which I received the coveted Australian Geographic Adventurer of the Year award.


The BioSUB was designed as a partly regenerative system and evolved into a virtual underwater classroom. Some of the oxygen I needed to survive underwater was generated by a photosynthetic bioreactor designed and built by students from a high school Advanced Biology class. I also built a pedal powered generator that produced enough electricity to power my laptop. I used cameras, the Internet and a telecom system to communicate with people from all over the world from the depths of the lake. Thousands of people worldwide followed my progress over the Internet.

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Life Amphibious

My projects are a way of raising awareness of critical environmental issues around the globe in a fun, provocative and scientific way. My next project, Life Amphibious, was an adventurous human-powered submarine expedition through the Greek islands. In partnership with the Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles, I promoted their “Small Garbage” campaign in island schools. The Ecole de Technologie Superieure in Montreal, Canada, supported me by sending an assistant professor, four young engineers and their pioneering Omer 6 submarine to Greece for the expedition.


The submarine featured a biology-inspired design, resembling a penguin, as the means of propulsion. The aim of the Life Amphibious project was threefold: to get young people excited about science and engineering; to inspire environmental awareness; to provide university students with an educational experience that translated their theoretical knowledge into reality.

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LEGOLAND ATLANTIS

In 2010, I completed a project with LEGOLAND Deutschland® as Project Manager and “Edutainer”. My role was to launch the LEGOLAND Year of Records by living in an underwater house in the LEGOLAND ATLANTIS by SEA LIFE aquarium. I entered on 30 March and surfaced again two weeks later having achieved a new Guinness World Record for the most electricity generated by pedaling underwater (2,502 watt hours).


It was a globally unique experiment with over 100,000 children and parents visiting me on location in LEGOLAND Deutschland® and via the Web site. The project featured on National Geographic Channel’s Naked Science ‘City Under the Sea’ documentary and with over 100 million viewers globally, the project was awarded a silver medal at the Econ Awards in Germany in the category “PR-Activity”.

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Tik and Bubbles Underwater Headquarters

Most recently, I started developing a new educational initiative called Tik and Bubbles with the intention of designing community-based science projects that are creative, collaborative, challenging and fun. Tik, an underwater superhero, will encourage young people to pursue STEM studies and careers, promote and protect Australia’s marine biodiversity and lead an active and healthy lifestyle.


I have just completed a successful peerfunding campaign with StartSomeGood to create the ultimate underwater superhero headquarters to be located off the coast of Australia. I raised over $33,000 and set a new Australian record using their peerfunding platform. Let the challenge begin!

I invite you to follow my new project as it unfolds and encourage you to get in touch with any ideas or questions you may have. If you’d like to get involved in some way please let me know, as I am sure we can find a way.

Follow Lloyd's exploration adventure initiatives on Twitter @Lloyd_Godson or visit his website!

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Contributed by Lloyd Godson Marine Edutainer and Aquanaut New South Wales, Australia

To the Deep!A Starter Guide to Submersibles

Know the difference between a submarine and a submersible? Planning an underwater expedition and need to get a landlubber crew to the deep? Here’s a beginner's guide to human-occupied submersibles to get started.

The history of ocean exploration is well known: the descent of the Bathysphere, Jacques Cousteau, Sylvia Earle, and the discovery of the RMS Titanic wreck are familiar to most. But what options still exist for humans to explore the oceans in person? Only 5% of the ocean, the earth’s largest habitat, has been explored. Humans have a long way to go; what technology exists to continue to explore and push the limits of human understanding?

(Left to Right) Beebe and Barton's Bathysphere and wreck of the RMSTitanic

Whereas submarines are fully autonomous large vessels offering long-term living space for many people, manned submersibles (subs) are small and require surface support, but are highly versatile. Research institutions, governments, and private companies around the world have built submersibles primarily to conduct oceanographic and archaeological research underwater first-hand.

(Left to Right) Cutaways of a submarine and a submersible

As new technologies develop, filmmakers, marine resource prospectors and tourism outfits are using subs to gain access to previously unreachable parts of the planet. Though each sub is unique and adaptable for use across industries, there are several common designs.

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Spherical & Hemispherical Dome Submersibles

This style of sub allows for the most immersive underwater experience ranging from depths of 200-1000m for multiple pilots and passengers. The large field of view makes these subs ideal platforms for filmmaking and photography as well as conducting research and exploratory missions. In addition to use by scientific institutions, these subs are also increasingly built by for-profit companies and purchased by private individuals.

(Left to Right) OceanGate's Antipodes, GEOMAR's Jago, Triton's 3300

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Deep Submergence Vehicles

Almost exclusively built by national governments, Deep Submergence Vehicles (DSVs) are the “space shuttles” of the sea, built to push the limits of human exploration of the sea and reach 4,500-11,000m. Currently, China, Japan, Russia, France and the US own and operate DSVs in partnership with scientific institutions. To withstand the intense pressure of the deep, windows are small and limit the view outside. Sampling equipment, like manipulator arms and pressurized containers to collect samples are common on these subs, often used in tandem with Remotely-Operated Vehicles (ROVs).

(Left to Right) WHOI's DSV Alvin, Ifremer's DSV Nautile, JAMSTEC's DSV Shinkai

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'Flying' Submersibles

Built more like a plane than a submersible, these subs “fly” through the water, offering a unique exploratory experience. Capable of higher speeds and greater maneuverability than traditional bulbous subs, these winged subs can also be launched without surface support. Diving up to 200m, this type of submersible attracts a market of private individuals, allowing thrill-seeking exploration enthusiasts an unusual glimpse of the underwater world.

(Left to Right) Sub Aviator Systems' Super Aviator and Hawke's DeepFlight Super Falcon

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Commercial Submersibles

The workhorses of the sea, commercial subs are built to assist in rescue and salvage operations, oilrig inspection and maintenance, seafloor mineral resource development and film and data collection. For the most part, these subs are owned by private companies and contracted by government, military, and scientific institutions. Highly maneuverable to enable underwater work, these subs carry one or two pilots and reach depth ranges from 50-1000m.

(Left to Right) Nuytco Research's DeepWorker and Dual DeepWorker

These common submersible designs may be found exploring the ocean in every corner of the planet, and new designs continue to be developed to reach new depths and achieve innovative goals. With so much of the earth's largest habitat unexplored and unknown, the future of human exploration of the ocean using manned submersibles promises to be an exciting one!

Photo credits: Manned Underwater Vehicles Committee's Sub Database

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Contributed by Samantha Wishnak Education and Outreach Coordinator Blue Marble Exploration Brooklyn, NY, USA