Book Release | My Providence Volumes I & II

Every day in the field sheds light on a vast new world, and a new perspective on life in the sea. While much of what we do as scientists, innovators, and educators is quite linear - an equal yet often overlooked body of work is quite abstract. There is an art in exploration, where we find an art in oneself.

My channel of choice for expression is through the written word. During those rare moments of  'down time' over the past fifteen years, I've documented many of my experiences as poetry.

I am pleased to announce the release of 'My Providence | Volumes I & II'. This book project is an ongoing, evolutionary body of work. The release of this collation of Volumes I & II is timely, as my world is in yet another transitional period - making my way back home to Providence - the capital of the Ocean State (Rhode Island). You can purchase a copy of this new book here.

Volume III is underway, though it will be some time before it makes its way into the world. For now - enjoy, dive safe, and press onward.

the chronic physical hazards of the life aquatic

Just 45 days into 2012, and I'm at hour 82 spent underwater for the year - and its not getting any easier. I've discussed the myriad of physical problems faced with diving here previously. Given that we're still in the thick of winter (though be it a mild one), the environmental factors alone can wreak havoc on your body.

Put aside the diving maladies - decompression sickness (and illness) - and let's look at the persistent, though more chronic issues we face as working divers:

1. dry/cracked skin - diving hotwater suits is severely dehydrating. Couple this with breathing dry compressed gas, sweating from working hard, immersion in saltwater, and irregular hydration breaks due to being underwater for lengthy blocks of time - day after day after day, your skin isn't looking so good.

2. fungus - I'll be frankly honest and open that fungus of every sort is my worst nightmare. I'm in a wetsuit everyday. It never dries out 100%, and is never thoroughly cleaned. After being in a wetsuit for 8 hours, I drive home, and take a shower, so I'm still wet. Never drying out thoroughly, and being exposed to fungal breeding grounds constantly is a recipe for disaster - skin, nails, and other cracks and crevasses are less than appealing.

3. soft nails - this comes from being wet, and the fungus problem. I routinely lose toenails. Yes, this is nasty, and I'm sorry to offend any readers, but its a fact of the life aquatic. I've literally felt my big toenail break away mid-dive (painfully) on more than one occasion. Three months and it comes back and the cycle repeats itself. ugghh.

4. heightened sensitivity to light and noise - the upside to increased sensory perception has been discussed here, and it lends itself exceedingly well to functioning here on land. But the down side is how overwhelming any crowded spaces can be - makes me want to crawl right back into the black hole that I spend most of the week in.

5. loss of core strength - in the water, I can move mountains. It's taken years to find that new center of gravity, and work with tremendous composure. Out of the water, where gravity sets in more deeply, I often have trouble simply holding myself together. The core muscles used for posture are weekend by not being used for such lengthy amounts of time. This muscle loss has been documented in astronauts, who like divers, spend most of the work day in a weightless state.

I could go on, but you get the point. There is plenty to celebrate and appreciate, but it all comes with a price. My question is always on the extent to which we are adaptable - just physically, let alone the radical physiological changes we endure while diving. Equipment and technology improvements can curb the issues, but not solve the issues. The life aquatic may require an approach we have yet considered.

The Age of Aquarius

Fifty years ago today - February 4th, 1962 - a particular celestial alignment lent itself to our embracing 'the Age of Aquarius'. This was of course an interesting time, with the Age coinciding with radical sociopolitical change, and the outward promotion of a liberal new world view.

Of course, the word 'Aquarius' share its roots with the word 'aquatic', of which this 1960's time period also lent itself well to. The early 1960's set the cornerstone for a multi-decade initiative to establish a human presence on the seafloor. In 1962, Ed Link - entrepreneur, explorer, & innovator - initiated a 'man in the sea' program with  an early demonstration of placing Robert Stenuit in a pressurized vessel for 24 hours while using helium/oxygen as a breathing medium at a depth of 200 feet. Robert successfully became the world's first aquanaut.

Just a few short years later, Robert Stenuit and Jon Lindbergh lived for two days in one of Link's newest developments - the Submersible Portable Inflatable Dwelling (SPID) - at a depth of over 400 feet in the Bahamas. The cascade of development fueled the next 20 years in ocean exploration; a focus on a permanent human presence on the seafloor.

Twists of bad fate and circumstance led to all of this collapsing, though one long term result was the 'Aquarius' Undersea Laboratory which remains among the only operable undersea habitat for scientific purposes. The Age of Aquarius did indeed come full circle.

But where are we now? Two steps forward, and one step back - to this day there is no permanent human presence on the seafloor, though efforts are indeed underway to embrace a new age revolution in human intervention of our oceans.  The best example is Dennis Chamberland's Atlantica expeditions.

Twenty years of investment in the 60's and 70's is a drop in the bucket for sake of evolutionary change. We know more today, have improved means to collaborate and communicate, and improved accessibility for short stays on the seafloor, and most importantly - a demonstrated need.

Our Blue Planet is overcrowded and subject to increasing pressures imposed by we humans. It is our duty to take bold steps towards a cleaner, more productive, engaging, and respectful relationship with the 95% of living space that is yet inhabited...it is our fateful destiny and evolution to embrace an Aquarian age like never before - and frankly necessary for our sustainability.

Be excited, and look ahead...