News
Diver will use ‘Aquanaut’ suit to explore ancient wreck
Phil Short is dressed like an astronaut, but he is not going into space – he’s going to the bottom of the ocean.
The technical diving educator will be part of a team of six men who will dive as deep as 1,000 feet to try and recover artefacts from a Greek shipwreck using an exosuit that was featured on Scubaverse.com last year.
The Exosuit atmospheric diving system, which looks similar to a metal spacesuit, allows divers to drop to extraordinary depths for hours without the need for decompressing upon returning to the surface. Short and members of the dive team will use the new technology in September when they return to the Antikythera wreck in the Mediterranean. The wreck is said to date from the first century BC. It was discovered by sponge divers off Point Glyphadia on the Greek island of Antikythera in 1900.
“To train in the suit and use it on the forthcoming project is a privilege, an honor and very exciting,” Short said.
Made of mostly aluminum, the suit weighs 530 pounds and uses patented rotary joints to enable both arm and leg movements that allow divers to complete delicate work on the seabed.
The technology was invented by Canadian Phil Nuytten and has been developed and built by Nuytco Research Ltd.
“It’s like a submarine, but it’s a hard suit so you’re really inside a man-shaped suit,” Mr. Short said.
“The suit is basically a mini submarine with jointed arms and legs where the diver is maintained at surface pressure rather than being exposed to water pressure.”
The expedition, called Return to Antikythera, follows a four-year journey for Short, who has been researching the site for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, the same institute that discovered the wreck of the Titanic.
The ancient Greek site is most famous for the discovery of what is known as the world’s oldest computer – the Antikythera Mechanism.
The device is believed to have been used to predict astronomical positions, such as the movement of stars and comets, and pre-dates the use of Greek scientists in 100 BC.
“What is so exciting about it is it predates any other machinery with cogs,” Short said.
“The object has been described as the ‘first manual computer’ that pre-dates the clock by hundreds of years.”
Divers with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute began surveying the site in 2012 using rebreathers.
Short said in 2012 the team uncovered the ship’s anchor, bow and stem anchor and last year discovered the shipwreck’s layout. “Last year we found an object using ship-mounted electronic survey equipment that could be a missing life-size statue of horse, at about 600 feet,” Short said.
During September’s expedition, the divers will be able to reach the statue and bring it back to surface, where it will be studied and later displayed at the Athens National Museum.
The team will survey, study and perform the excavation of the wreck and surrounding area, and will conduct the authorized recovery of key artifacts.
As well as his work with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Woods has trained with groups including the U.S. National Parks Service and the archeologists of the Chinese National Museum in Beijing. He has also worked with search and rescue teams including the UK Police Underwater Search team and media teams from the BBC.
Find out more about Phil at www.philshorttechnical.co.uk.
Source: www.compasscayman.com
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Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
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