Edit

Overview

The 'in Bahama deep' expeditions began in 2010, under the leadership and fiscal sponsorship of Ocean Opportunity Inc., a not for profit organization.

The project seeks to catalyze a sustainable demonstration project that improves upon human intervention of mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs). Utilizing advances in diving techniques and technologies, the project affords an operational vehicle to serve the science interests of a growing multi-disciplinary team.

Unique to the project is its keeping the exploration itself as the focal point for program development, with a strategic integration of the sciences, technology development, arts, media relations, and modern social and interactive technologies. This provides a broad vehicle for collaboration across numerous disciplines and a self-perpetuating body of resulting work.

Expeditions provide the catalyst for the project, which are organized into thematic units. Each expedition embodies a critical message and seeks to contribute to a specific body of knowledge, and further bring this knowledge back for public consumption. Past and present scientific and technological themes embedded into the project include the following:

• Exploration & human health
• Alien environments as a refuge for biological and chemical diversity
• Biodiversity and biological inventories
• Geological timescales and climate change
• Human undersea performance as an analog for space and other extreme environment intervention
• Exploration & settlement of new frontiers


Edit

Community Relations & Public Appeal

This comprehensive and systemmatic investigation of deep coral reefs using human intervention lends itself to an evolving body of creative and technical work which is organized to communicate broad concepts of humanity's 'past, present, and future' to public audiences. Breifly, these messages are as follows:

• Past - The geological diversity of the deep tells a story about the formation of Earth's landscape. These hidden reaches of our oceans may provide gateways into understanding the roots of humanity, and our cultural evolution.

• Present - Today, studying the natural history & biodiversity of unexplored areas will provide clues about the role these systems play in the vast expanse of oceana incognita. Accessing these deepwater habitats is one important step towards improving our quality of life.

• Future - As technologies and techniques are demonstrated in the Bahama deep, scientists will explore, firsthand, to depths approaching the margins of the continental shelf. This will be made possible with advances in rebreather technology, low-cost undersea habitation, and new techniques for scientific diving.

Edit

Project History

The project was inspired by a 2002 NOAA/NURP supported field project (PI's Lesser & Slattery) hosted at NOAA's Undersea Research Center on Lee Stocking Island, Exumas, Bahamas, where M. Lombardi was employed as interim Diving Safety Officer and played a critical role in facilitating the work. The project was among the first in utilizing mixed-gas technical diving under institutional auspices while adhering to scientific diving standards of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences(AAUS). Deep scientific exploration dives were undertaken in Exuma Sound while working at a local research site called Bock Wall.

During one of the final dives, in just 8 minutes at 300feet/90meters (depth and time limits imposed due to open-circuit diving technology), nearly a dozen new, never before described species were collected, several of which were found to produce chemicals of interest in fighting cancer and other human diseases (Slattery, pers. comm.). The project was then born and has since evolved in its quest for 'the 9th minute'. The ability to achieve this one minute represents a fundamental drive of humanity; the need to innovate, conduct science in pursuit of discovery in its purest form, and further sharing these discoveries with those who stand to benefit.

Subsequent field events followed in 2003, 2004, and 2005, with Lombardi incubating numerous related ventures in preparation for a focussed series of expeditions beginning in 2010. In 2008, a NOAA technical workshop identified deep reefs from 200-500fsw as a priority research area, using the term 'Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (MCEs)' and started a website to catalyze related research collaborations and information exchange (www.mesophotic.org). The workshop resulted in NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 98 and OAR OER 2. The timing of this release proved critical in generating support for the '2010 in Bahama deep' launch.

Edit

Recent Expeditions

November 2010 | The first major expedition was entitled 'in TOTO deep' (TOTO - Tongue of the Ocean) with work hosted at Small Hope Bay Lodge on Andros Bahamas. The project was funded by the National Geographic Society's Waitt Grants Program and carried Explorers Club Flag #172. Divers Lombardi and Godfrey used mixed-gas closed circuit rebreathers to explore the vertical wall lining TOTO, while documenting its natural history. Hundreds of images were aquired and used to catalyze a multi-disciplinary science team. Work was carried out to 430fsw/131msw without incident.

May 2011 | The project continued with work in Exuma Sound in May 2011, with the added objectives of incubating science interests of project collaborators. Tasks included photography, videography, fish and invertebrate collections, with tasks carried out to 446fsw/136msw without incident. Of note, however, is that both divers may have experienced mild HPNS symptoms on one dive. Lombardi noted the onset of symptoms on reaching 390fsw, though a reduced descent rate alleviated symptoms thereafter.

Special attention was placed on in-water methodologies and identifying practical working limits. This work was published in the 2011 Symposium Proceedings of the American Academy of Under Sciences. Science work supporting collaborators Sparks & Gruber resulted in several exciting discoveries, with literature now in press.

2012 | A portable underwater habitat is being constructed, and intended for deployment during a 2012 expedition to Exuma Sound. This habitat will augment the lengthy decompression phases of the dive. This deployment, and resulting scientific work is supported by a second National Geographic Society/Waitt Grants Program award to M. Lombardi.

Edit

Collaborations

Keeping exploration central to program development, the field team and its use of advanced diving technology provides the vehicle to afford novel access to the Bahamas' MCE. The team carries out in-water tasks to meet the science interests of its collaborative team. To-date, data, specimens, and imagery have been gathered to support the following:

American Museum of Natural History
City University of New York
University of Connecticut
University of Kansas
University of Rhode Island
Penn State University

Innovation in diving technology continues to improve upon MCE accessibility. Coopertive projects have been undertaken with the following:

Shearwater Research
Subsalve Inc.
Arizona State University


Each field event gathers a considerable volume of imagery and data. This is archived in open source formats and made widely available to the science and education community to provide the pilot data necessary for incubating specific science interests. This open data policy is unique in the science community, and may prove to have deep implications in changing more conventional science collaboration paradigms.

Edit

Project Portfolio

Edit

White & Peer Reviewed Publications

Lombardi (2011). ‘Depth Perception’ in Scientific Diving breaking the perceived 300fsw/90msw depth threshold to meet international science priorities. Sea Technology Magazine, December 2011.

Lombardi, MR. (2011) A Visual Profile of the Vertical Mesophotic Coral Ecosystem of the Tongue of the Ocean (TOTO), Andros, Bahamas to 100 meters. Proceedings of the 2011 American Academy of Underwater Sciences Annual Symposium.

Lombardi, MR. and Godfrey, J. (2011) In-water strategies for scientific diver based examinations of the vertical Mesophotic Coral Ecosystem (vMCE) from 50 to 150 meters. Proceedings of the 2011 American Academy of Underwater Sciences Annual Symposium.

Lombardi, MR. and Barao, T. (2008) Considerations for Configuration, Performance, and Utility of Hybrid Mixed-Mode Integrated Life Systems for Manned Undersea Intervention. In 2008 Proceeding of the Society for Human Performance in Extreme Environments Annual Symposium. 18pp.

Lombardi, MR. and Wible, DS. (2004) The CCR2000: a computer controlled closed-circuit rebreather system for industrial and exploration diving. Proceedings of Underwater Intervention. 6pp.

Lombardi, MR. (2003) Considerations for scientific technical diving: An overview of logistics, procedures, and implications for program development. ‘Diving for Science 2003’ proceedings of the 22nd annual American Academy of Underwater Sciences symposium, pp. 43-58.

Lombardi, MR. (2004) Rebreather Technology: there is a market, but can anyone deliver? Sea Technology Magazine, December 2004 Issue, pp. 15-19, w/cover photo.

Edit

Influenced Standards

Lombardi, MR (editor) (2003). Operational Guidelines for Advanced Diving Modes for Undersea Research and Exploration. Applied Subsea Technologies internal document, 23pp.

Lombardi, MR (editor), (2002). The Next Step: Mixed Gas Technical Diving ‘Science 300 feet deep’ Procedures for diving operations using mixed-gas, open-circuit SCUBA with staged, in-water decompression for conducting undersea science exploration. PIMS-CMRC/NOAA-NURC internal document. 33pp.

Lombardi, MR (editor), (2002). Operational Guidelines for Open-circuit Mixed-gas Decompression Diving for Undersea Research and Exploration. Applied Subsea Technologies internal document. 25pp.

Edit

Popular Articles

Lombardi (2012). Deep Oceans Magazine. Winter 2011/12 Issue.

Amador, Fabio (2011). Journey into Inner Space, Conquering the Abyss. National Geographic Daily News. April 12, 2011.

Lombardi, MR. (2007) Are you ‘H.A.P.P.Y.’ with your closed-circuit rebreather at the water’s edge? The Summit Journal. Released December 17, 2007.

Lombardi, MR. (2007) Technical Diving the 7 C’s. The Summit Journal. Released August 28, 2007.

Lombardi, MR. (2007) MIT & URI student engineers collaborate to develop rebreathers for science. AAUS ‘the SLATE’ Issue 2, p 24.

Lombardi, MR. (2007) Discovering Cures for Disease from the Ocean. Contribution to Omuse.com beta. March 2007.

Lombardi, MR. (2005) PIMS is Gettin' Down. Perry Currents quarterly newsletter. Volume 3, issue 3.

Lombardi, MR. (2005) Technical Diving the 7C's. Dive Chronicles Magazine May/June '05 Issue. pp 69-71.

Lombardi, MR, and Smith, D. (2004) Perry Institute for Marine Science hosts closed-circuit technology. AAUS ‘the SLATE’ volume 2, pp. 11-13.

Lombardi, MR, Kakuk, BJ, Lesser, MP. (2002) Caribbean Marine Research Center Hosts First Technical Diving for Science Program. Journal of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences: AAUS’ ‘the SLATE’ October issue.

Edit

Multimedia

Edit

poster prints

Developed by Amanda McCorkle and Michael Lombardi. Intended for classroom and community display.
posterExploration & Human Health
posterImagine Life on the Edge


Edit

videos

Video shorts produced for project marketing, fundraising, and educational tutorial purposes.
video shorta perspective of life on the edge
video shorta prelude to 2012
video shortM. Lombardi's 2011 AAUS Symposium presentation

Edit

press releases

May 2011 - Post Expedition Release
April 2011 - Pre Expedition Release
Nov 2010 - Post Expedition Release
Nov 2010 - Pre Expedition Release


Edit

Supporters

Edit

2012 Expedition Support

Ocean Opportunity Inc.
National Geographic Society/Waitt Grants Program
Shearwater Research
rEvo Rebreathers
Subsalve
Molecular Products


Edit

2010/11 Expedition Support

National Geographic Society/Waitt Grants Program
Ocean Opportunity Inc.
American Museum of Natural History
University of Connecticut
City University of New York
University of Kansas
Small Hope Bay Lodge
Perry Institute
Dive Exuma
Shearwater Research
GMS Concepts
Molecular Products
Nocturnal Lights
Hugyfot
The Clark Family
The Lombardi Family
The Colacchio Family
Frank Fabio


Edit

Past Supporters

Perry Institute
NOAA/NURP
NIUST
Lifespan Healing Arts
RI Foundation
Univ. of New Hampshire
Univ. of Mississippi
OMS


Edit

Dive Team Participants

Michael Lombardi (Expedition Leader)
John Sparks (2011)
Dave Gruber (2011)
Jeff Godfrey (2010, 2011)
Catherine Booker (2005)
Caleb Thibeault (2004)
Michael Lesser, PhD. (2002)
Marc Slattery, PhD. (2002)
Brian Kakuk (2002)




Edit

References

1. Rechinsky, Erin. "Technical Dive Training for Scientists at NURP's Caribbean Facility Gets Underway". NURP Undersea Reearch Spotlight. NURP. http://www.nurp.noaa.gov/Spotlight/TechDiveTraining.htm. Retrieved 4 September 2011.

2. Slattery, Marc (July 2002). "Personal Communication". via phone.

3. Amador, Fabio. "Journey into Inner Space, Conquering the Abyss". National Geographic Daily News. National Geographic Society. http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2011/04/12/journey-into-inner-space-conquering-the-abyss/. Retrieved 4 September 2011.

4. Puglise KA, Hinderstein LM, Marr JCA, Dowgiallo MJ, Martinez FA. 2009. Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems Research Strategy: International Workshop to Prioritize Research and Management Needs for Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems, Jupiter, Florida, 12-15 July 2008. Silver Spring, MD: NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research, and Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, NOAA Undersea Research Program. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 98 and OAR OER 2. 24 pp.

5. "Visible Earth: Bahamas and Cuba." Visible Earth: Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2011. .