Space-Age scuba suit enables divers to go deeper

A space-age scuba suit that enables scientists to dive and stay beneath the water’s surface at depths of 1,000 feet or more will have its first test this summer in the ocean off Nantucket.

The suit, known as an Exosuit, is on exhibit until Wednesday at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan. Scientists there say it will bring ocean exploration to a new level, going beyond the mini submarines that have been used to explore deep unchartered waters to collect marine life from its natural habitat.

The 530-pound aluminum alloy suit has rotary joints at the hands, elbows and knees and a bubble helmet mask. The suit’s handgrips enables scientists to touch and grab marine life and provides a 50-hour life-support system with communications with a surface vessel.

“For the first time, I will be able to get out into the water and experience marine life and actually touch it,” said John Sparks, 50, a curator at the museum’s ichthyology department. Sparks, who is not a diver but has been training for the excursion, said he is especially excited about the suit’s foot power thrusters that will help maneuver him through the ocean waters.

Scientists this summer will test an Exosuit off the coast of Nantucket where waters plummet 10,000 feet. “This is blue water. There is no bottom,” said Michael Lombardi, 31, the museum’s diving safety officer and marine biologist who will also test the suit.

“We are at a crossroads of diving technology,” said Lombardi. “This is a form fitting space suit. You are in a shell with all this technology that works with you.”

Scientists hope to gather a new jelly fish species with a visible luminescent light they hope to reproduce for medical research in helping to track cell movements in the human body.

Using Exosuit to collect these bioluminescent species in their natural environment will allow scientists to freeze them for research at the lab.

“Our access to these deeper waters [up until now] has restricted our ability to investigate the behavior and flashing patterns,” said Sparks. Before Exosuit, divers could only see them when they emerged in shallow waters, when their luminescence is not as intense.

Now with Exosuit, scientists can study them for several hours watching and documenting their lighting patterns with video and high-definition images, all in their environment, said Sparks.

Ultimately, the suit will give divers the chance to work in some places where no human has gone before. “Underwater exploration gives opportunities to be the first person in that environment and that is a very humbling experience,” Lombardi said.

Source: www.newsday.com