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I am a new subscriber (as of yesterday) and would like to introduce
myself. I have been involved with diving since 1950, built my own rebreather
in 1955, built several helmets and two portable compressors, built a
decompression chamber for determining heart beat rate on guinea pigs as a
function of pressure change, built my own scuba and u/w 16mm movie camera
housing and still camera housings, etc. I bought my first scuba outfit in 1954
(Healthways) and commercial shallow water diving helmet in 1958. I have been
diving for 45 years, and except for a 18 year 'lull' due to raising a family,
have been at it for a long time!
At the present time, I do u/w video and still photography, and work as a
volunteer para-archaeologist in the Florida Keys during the summer. I was
recently invited to work with archaeologists on a Byzantine wreck off Israel
but could not participate due to schedule conflicts. I may take an u/w
archaeology course at the University of Hawaii this summer (6 weeks). I would
like to work on the Nuestra Senora de la Pillar wreck off Guam soon. I plan to
spend the rest of my life diving and doing u/w archaeology as a volunteer (the
most interesting jobs usually do not pay well, so one must volunteer to
participate).
I have a deep interest in rebreathers, heads-up displays, and pushing
diving equipment ahead into the next generation. I believe the present mask
volume should be reduced, the console should be readable through a heads-up
display in the mask, the numerous hoses from the regulator should be reduced
in number, the thermal insulation in wetsuits should be improved to reduce
bouyancy and eliminate the need heavy weightbelts....! What a wish list!!
Since 1950 I have seen an explosion in the availability of diving
equipment. I must give credit to the younger generation (the baby boomers) for
this enthusiastic participation. Thank you for spending your money on diving
equipment! Now I can buy a diving suit in assorted colors instead of gluing it
together from a roll of black neoprene. And thanks to the women who flock to
the dive sites. Back in the 50's a female diver was rare.
I hope to see you at TEK '95. (Stormin) Norman Thomas
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