Part 1 of 2.

According to Webster, renaissance refers to transitional human enlightenment in the arts and free-thinking from the middle ages to modern times. The same source refers to man as a piece with which a game is played in addition to the more common reference of a human being. Both of these well-suit Vancouver's Phil Nuytten. A long time diving enthusiast bitten by the "scuba bug" at an impressionable age, Phil has done more than just fantasize about expanding the range and role of divers underwater. He has developed the technology to make it happen.

Over the years, many articles and television programs have been produced about Phil Nuytten describing his early days. Like many others conquering the underwater world over forty years ago, the excitement was realized by diving new sites, diving deeper, adapting existing primitive equipment and of course, spearfishing. As with many neophyte activities, scuba diving has developed significantly since the early 50s. It has developed a conscience and a voice through the assistance of free-thinkers like Phil Nuytten. Although well-known throughout diving circles in Canada and the United States, his technical accomplishments read like a historical bibliography of diving advancements in North America. Consider the following, the development of the personal one atmosphere dive suit from the early propellor-aided wasp suit that brought man back onto the deck of the Breadalbane in Canada's Arctic for the first time in almost 130 years. Then the development of the robotic-looking Newtsuit with specialized articulating joints allowing the closest replication of natural human motion to date underwater. And now the futuristic Exosuit which looks more like a space suit than a submersible. It is a free-swimming one atm. individual submersible that is capable of providing hours of life support at depths below any that a scuba diver can safely attain. The whole suit weighs in at slightly more than 120 lbs. If Phil's dream comes true, Exosuits will be finding their way into most divers' garages before too long. Far-fetched? Not really. Considering that divers can now supply themselves with custom-made titanium drysuits, high pressure mixed gas cylinders and professional-style underwater photographic equipment, why not a submersible? Especially one that requires mini mal surface support, is not tethered to a vessel and allows significantly more dive time without exposing the diver to harmful high pressures at depth.

Of course, the main market targeted for the Exosuit right now includes scientists, military and specialty applications. However, given time, they could go the way of computers and GPS (Global Positioning Navigation systems) and become accessible by those with the interest and disposable income.

This project alone would keep most men occupied mentally and physically over a lifetime. Not Phil. Being open to other uses and needs related to the ocean, he has also developed a variety of underwater vessels more closely resembling submarines. Imagine a single-seater submersible that is more like a go-cart to operate, quick to learn, responsive and even fun. Enter Nuytco Research Ltd.'s Deepworker 2000, a stainless steel compact DOV (Directly Operated Vehicle) that puts the operator on the site even if that site is 2000 feet (600 metres) down. With no umbilicals to surface stations, Deepworker is propelled by thrusters powered by self-contained batteries and can be fitted with a pair of manipulator arms. In addition to it's upcoming uses to document marine sanctuaries around the world, assess off-shore mining potential, and explore heat vents beyond the continental shelf, Deepworker also monitors it's operators to ensure their safety. A "bio-sensor" system reads out ongoing physiological data such as human respiratory rate and temperature along with cabin pressure and other systems data including oxygen supply pressure, cabin oxygen percentage, and outside temperature. All these factors provide valuable information about the operator's life support duration at their current usage rates. Wow, what will they think of next?

Two-man Deepworker subs. How about a quad? Phil's been there, done that. Let's get really wild for a moment. Let's take this technology, make it available to the general public including divers and non-divers, and take them on the adventure of their lifetime. Sound fantastic? At first, yes. But after hearing Phil discuss next year's expedition to the H.M.S. Breadalbane, the world's most northernmost shipwreck which happens to be in approximately 350 feet of Arctic water, one realizes that it's all possible. When over 70 percent of the earth's surface is covered by water, taking people into the ocean realm to see this habitat for themselves becomes the best source of education.

To Phil Nuytten, free-thinking is a way of life. A way of life that must keep those around him scrambling to keep up. If your head is spinning from the ongoing development of submersibles and submarines to expand man's penetration of our underwater world, and if you find Jules Verne-like undersea adventure travel incredible, stay tuned. As they say, "you've seen nothing yet!"

Phil has been instrumental in bringing underwater movie sequences to life on screen in such movies as the Abyss and most recently, Sphere. The realism of the diving sequences and equipment is made available through Hollywood Underwater. Also, plans for a museum highlighting Canadian achievement in underwater technology are going ahead. The scope of this project is immense and highly interactive. And, you guessed it, Phil Nuytten is one of the driving forces behind this too. More on Canada's own diving Renaissance Man to follow in the next issue.