That's right - altitude ocean dive. I got a very rare opportunity to dive what I think is the only ocean above sea level. If anyone knows this to be otherwise, let me know.
Anyway, I got a chance to dive in the Biosphere 2 ocean this past week.
http://www.bio2.com/index.html
Bioshpere 2 was started as a project over a decade ago in which 8 scientists locked themselves into this self sustaining environment. The initial stay was supposed to be for 2 years, then 8 more scientists were supposed to inhabit it for a year at a time. I actually visited the grounds during the first year. The experiment didn't make it. All of the inhabitants lost a lot of weight and one had to leave for a medical emergency. Very controversial. Anyway, new owners now and they continue to study things there, but it's no longer a closed environment. They do tours through parts of the environment.
The ocean is actually a living ocean. It contains coral, plants, fish, and invertebrates. There is a slight current in it. It is a warm 79 degrees. It's about 21' deep and is at about 4500' elevation. The ocean isn't that big, but because of its size and depth it qualifies as an open water environment. Here's a photo of the ocean plenum:
http://www.bio2.com/images/gallery-destination/pages/oceanview_jpg.htm
So, what did we do? We cleaned windows. The windows start to get encrusted around the edges and need to be cleaned off. These windows are how the touring public look into the ocean. So we were part of the attraction for about an hour. We're now part of a couple dozen people's vacation photos. I also snapped some photos of some of them and they posed for me!
It was an interesting experience. Like I said, it was a rare opportunity. They don't sell these dives and actually have quite a few restrictions on who they'll allow to volunteer for this opportunity. We just got lucky. We met all of there requirements and happened to be in the right place at the right time. We're scheduled to go back next month for some more window cleaning and will probably continue to go once or twice a month.
Hey, what can I say? :06: I live in the middle of the desert. How else can I dive warm salt water on a regular basis?
Anyway, I got a chance to dive in the Biosphere 2 ocean this past week.
http://www.bio2.com/index.html
Bioshpere 2 was started as a project over a decade ago in which 8 scientists locked themselves into this self sustaining environment. The initial stay was supposed to be for 2 years, then 8 more scientists were supposed to inhabit it for a year at a time. I actually visited the grounds during the first year. The experiment didn't make it. All of the inhabitants lost a lot of weight and one had to leave for a medical emergency. Very controversial. Anyway, new owners now and they continue to study things there, but it's no longer a closed environment. They do tours through parts of the environment.
The ocean is actually a living ocean. It contains coral, plants, fish, and invertebrates. There is a slight current in it. It is a warm 79 degrees. It's about 21' deep and is at about 4500' elevation. The ocean isn't that big, but because of its size and depth it qualifies as an open water environment. Here's a photo of the ocean plenum:
http://www.bio2.com/images/gallery-destination/pages/oceanview_jpg.htm
So, what did we do? We cleaned windows. The windows start to get encrusted around the edges and need to be cleaned off. These windows are how the touring public look into the ocean. So we were part of the attraction for about an hour. We're now part of a couple dozen people's vacation photos. I also snapped some photos of some of them and they posed for me!
It was an interesting experience. Like I said, it was a rare opportunity. They don't sell these dives and actually have quite a few restrictions on who they'll allow to volunteer for this opportunity. We just got lucky. We met all of there requirements and happened to be in the right place at the right time. We're scheduled to go back next month for some more window cleaning and will probably continue to go once or twice a month.
Hey, what can I say? :06: I live in the middle of the desert. How else can I dive warm salt water on a regular basis?
