A chance meeting in 2024 gave me the rare opportunity to personally thank a diving scientist of unbounded fame, Sylvia Earle. Recently, at the 2024 Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences NOGI Awards in Las Vegas, I found myself in the center of the assembled NOGI Awardees—both old and new. And right in front of me, was Sylvia.
Sylvia Earle
For those who don’t know, Sylvia Earle is an American marine biologist and oceanographer. While I call her The Lady of the Sea, she is more commonly called Her Deepness, or The Sturgeon General. Time Magazine named her their first “Hero for the Planet.”
According to Wikipedia, she has been a National Geographic Explorer at Large since 1998, and was the first female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
But I came to know Sylvia for a more humble reason: her simple act of sharing with young, aspiring divers.
Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences
I had come to Vegas specifically to help diver and author Jeffrey Bozanic celebrate his NOGI award for diving education. The NOGI has been described by James Cameron, also a NOGI awardee, as the Oscar of the underwater world.
Jeffrey Bozanic giving his NOGI acceptance speech.
But much to my surprise, being one of the shorter attendees at the yearly photo op, I found myself standing behind Sylvia Earle. She was wearing her signature turquoise jacket.
I touched her shoulder and said, “After the photo, I want to tell you something.”
She nodded with a smile, “Sure.”
Scientist in the Sea
After posing and taking photos, I told her that over fifty years ago, in 1972, she had been a guest lecturer to our graduate science divers class in Panama City, Florida. We were in the second class of the NOAA, State of Florida, and Navy-funded Scientist in the Sea (SITS II) Program run by Captain George Bond, Wilbur Eaton, and others at the Navy base in Panama City.
Captain George Bond, M.D., 1972
Wilbur Eaton and a SITS student.
Back then, I had planned to be a marine biologist specializing in the effects of high pressure on the physiology of deep-sea organisms. So, having Sylvia Earle talk to our small class of divers was a dream come true.
Vegas
In Vegas, I told her my research path eventually shifted to human deep-sea diving physiology. Still, I will always be indebted to her for spending a day or two teaching us how challenging but rewarding a career in marine biology can be.
I can only speak for myself, but as a young diver, I was a little star-struck.
And now, many years later, I am thankful for the chance to let her know that we young divers greatly appreciated being taught by a pioneer in science diving.
Sylvia Earle, Ph.D. and Dan Orr at the Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences NOGI Awards Gala, Las Vegas, 2024.
Lede photo credit: Outsideonline.com.