Mission Day: Final Thoughts

August 20, 2016 martin

Off

I have now been home for about a week. I have done much reflection on the past month; the incredible month I spent in Bermuda as a GUE diver volunteering my time for Project Baseline. My body is healing from all the bumps and bruises. I am catching up on some well needed rest. As I now (rested) reflect upon the adventure my mind has become more energetic, enthusiastic and clear regarding my time in the Bermuda Triangle.

I have truly had the experience and opportunity of a lifetime toiling closely with Project Baseline, the Baseline Explorer and GlobalSubDive achieving success in this mission. I expect that I will be on many future expeditions as time marches on. However, let me be very clear; I am a “volunteer”. I receive no compensation. I just spent 26 days contributing my time, knowledge, skill-sets and at times, frustration, aggravation and humor toward the successful outcome of this mission. Not a second of it do I regret. It has made me a better Diving Safety Officer for GUE and the Baseline Explorer and an all-around diver. My involvement helped to make our contribution as a scientifically focused dive team highly beneficial and productive; the dive team provided over 80 percent of the science samples presented to the onboard scientists, completed all the research goals for 4 of the 5 sites chosen for this Mission and placed the only team onto the Challenger Bank (the 5th planned site). Tremendous effort and dedication was expended by myself and all my GUE dive team mates, at our personal pleasure (but also at our personal risk), but executed consistently and professionally under incredible circumstances.

I think the eminent circumstance we had to manage was that our scientific expectation differed from the daily delivery and execution of science from those managing the main mission objective; the dive team was a separate entity reporting to the main mission overall. The Mission overall, had to balance science and public relations. Unfortunately, at times, science got put on the back burner. To us, volunteers dedicated to demonstrating a professional, competent and responsible resolve toward the science, this was vexing; our interpretation of this mission became greater than the reality of the Mission itself.

Other circumstances we had to manage were rushed pre-mission planning, organization and coordination; inefficient specialty equipment provided for accomplishing the main scientific tasks we were asked to complete underwater; time pressures impacting adequate coordination and communication with the incredible scientific staff assembled aboard the Baseline Explorer; excess sub pilot training dives; minimal sub time for scientists in lieu of sub rides for promotion. Finally, a general lack of appreciation for the value our dive team brought to the table; remember, we completed 4 of 5 sites and brought up 80 percent of the science retrieved.

Fortuitously, we as a GUE divers, trained specifically for deep and lengthy research diving, under the flag of “Project Baseline”, together sharing a “commitment to excellence”, were motivated to see our abilities and robust collection of diving assets utilized positively and efficiently in support of the Bermuda mission. So uncharacteristic circumstances be damned! We endeavored each day to complete our work with smiles on our faces, confidence in our talents and our value, and knew that at the end of the day our reward would be in the recognition of our efforts by the scientists onboard, appreciating our contributions to high quality research by demonstrating our value through our actions (not our words) and demonstrating the value Project Baseline and we GUE Divers have in making missions like this a success; regardless!

One great privilege for me on this expedition was to dive with so many incredible, humble, friendly, dedicated and simply “pleasures to be associated with”, GUE Divers. I want to thank them all for a great adventure and I want you to meet them…

Dr. Todd Kincaid

Director, Project Baseline
Head of Diving Operations, Baseline Explorer
Nationality: USA

GUE JJ CCR Diver and Hyperbaric Chamber Certified

Earned his Ph.D. in Geohydrology and is an avid underwater explorer; pushing the limits of expedition, cave and technical diving. Helped establish the non-profit organization Global Underwater Explorers (1999). Focusing now upon Project Baseline, GUE’s main conservation initiative as he piloted our dive team with incredible professional dedication and resolve.

Meredith Tanguay

Dive Safety Officer (DSO), Baseline Explorer

Nationality: USA

GUE Instructor and Hyperbaric Chamber Certified

A dynamic GUE Instructor, founder of Wet Rocks Diving (HI & FL) and a skilled DSO. Actively participating in dry and wet cave exploration stateside, is focused upon detail and was an incredible liaison between the science and dive teams. Constantly demonstrating an unwavering commitment to safety and excellence, she skillfully combined her passion for underwater exploration with a penchant for science.

JP Bresser

Professional Underwater Photographer and Videographer
Nationality: Netherlands
GUE Instructor Trainer/Examiner

An editor, photographer, and filmmaker, JP has traveled to exciting dive locations all over the world. Incredibly respected for his underwater photography and film work. Sought after to film cave and deep wreck exploration Globally. When he is not sharing his knowledge as a top GUE Educator, you will find him in remote and hard to reach locations, camera in hand. JP spent 4 days with the Bermuda mission and captured incredible action utilizing his mad imagery skills!

Graham Blackmore

GUE Professional Educator and Expedition Diver

Nationality: United Kingdom
GUE Instructor Trainer

Graham holds advanced degrees in marine and freshwater biology and marine ecology. A technical diver for over 10 years; has logged over 2,500 dives worldwide. A valued team diver on Project Baseline’s exploration of Italian wrecks in 2014 he stepped into the Bermuda Mission with tremendous wisdom and experience that he shared with all.

Susan Bird

GUE Diver and Project Baseline Volunteer
Nationality: USA
GUE Instructor Emerita

With a BA from Stanford, a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Alternative Therapist Sue added the vital element of “calm” to the Bermuda mission. Once President of the Bay Area Underwater Explorers (Monterey, CA) and was a core member of the NatGeo Hoyo Negro Team – the archaeological site in the Yucatan Peninsula that introduced the world to Naia. She presently leads trips to destinations around the world to facilitate in-water encounters with wild cetaceans.

Su Eun Kim

GUE Diver and Project Baseline Volunteer
Nationality: South Korea
GUE JJ CCR Diver

An experienced and mission-oriented diver, Su Eun joined Project Baseline aboard Baseline Explorer for the December 2015 exploration of Florida wrecks. The epitome of the phrase, “dynamite comes in small packages”, as her drive to support the Bermuda Mission was inspiring and motivating. Handling hundreds of pounds of gear she also provided some incredible underwater imagery.

Kevin Dow

GUE Diver and Project Baseline Volunteer
Nationality: USA
GUE JJ CCR Diver

Kevin works as a Senior Technical Support executive for a large international construction firm. He splits his dive time between the Monterey coast in California and caves in Florida, Mexico, and Vancouver. A solid expedition research diver, Kevin supported the entire Bermuda Mission topside in a manner “above and beyond”! 100% Mission focused his skills and insight were welcome and vital to the success we experienced in Bermuda.

Kyungsoo Kim

GUE Diver and Project Baseline Volunteer
Nationality: South Korea
GUE JJ CCR Diver

Kyungsoo holds a degree in engineering from Dong-A University and is the owner of Dive Academy Songdo and first joined Project Baseline aboard Baseline Explorer for the December 2015 exploration of Florida wrecks. Diving since 2001 he has logged over 3,000 dives. His strength above and below along with his calm, relaxed and friendly attitude provided tremendous value in accomplishing our mission goals.

And me…

Martin McClellan

Dive Safety Officer (DSO), Baseline Explorer
Nationality: USA
GUE Diver and Project Baseline Volunteer
Hyperbaric Chamber Certified
Author of this Blog

I have been diving since 1980 with a long-term goal of “philosophically, professionally and responsibly” representing the exploratory diving community. In 1999, I led a diving team to over 400’ more than ten times to document the SS Tahoe in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. I became involved in Project Baseline in 2009 as Project Manager of Lake Tahoe, USA.

I absolutely love being underwater. I have been blessed with the opportunity and honor to be involved in a “professional hobby” that allows me to interact with such great people as listed above; wonderful friends, new and old, that share my integrity and commitment to excellence.

Thank you all; dive mates, family, friends and Blog followers. Thank you for showing me that my/our participation with Project Baseline’s Mission to Bermuda, in every way, has deepened and strengthened Project Baseline’s relationship and global reputation; especially now among the leaders in the scientific community.

Finally, thank you for your friendship, interest and support as it has clarified the importance of my dedication to continue my involvement in these kinds of endeavors. I am inspired to seek out projects with those that truly have interest in making our world a better environment for our future generations.

Saying goodbye to Bermuda from Reno, Nevada, I wish you the best in your endeavors and adventures. Be curious, safe and have a great time!

Martin McClellan