Those are good questions, but I certainly can't answer them as I know very little about the science part of their program. From what I gather, they are doing a great deal of science. Don't ask me what the practical applications of the science would be because I just don't know. The same type of thing can be asked about many types of exploration (space would be a good one).
I do know that they are continuously exploring and surveying various branches of the system that haven't been done before. I suspect that knowing where the fresh water is located will someday become very important. I've read we are depleating our fresh water supply pretty quickly. For the time being, I think most of them do it as a hobby and for enjoyment with the hopes that someday their efforts will somehow benefit society (sounds good anyway).
I guess we all have our reasons for diving, and I can't say that anybody's reason is bad, I guess. Personally, I like intact, well preserved wrecks, and the deeper you go the better they get. Unnecessary and foolish deaths as the result of poor training and/or equipment irratates me quite a bit. I also get a little upset when various agencies ignore proven safe diving practices, but allow greed to affect their judgment with the end result sometimes being grave for those that follow them.
Anyway, so much for the band thread, eh?!
Mike
