Win a dive to Aquarius Reef Base- the world's only undersea research laboratory

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FIU CCOR

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Florida International University’s Center for Coastal Oceans Research is auctioning a once in a lifetime opportunity for a group of four people to dive Aquarius Reef Base, the world’s only undersea research laboratory, and stay at Baker’s Cay Resort in Key Largo.
The prize package includes:

-Two dives for a total of four people
- One dive to enter Aquarius Reef Base for a tour
-Second dive in the “Research Only” area surrounding the lab at Conch Reef
-A one-night stay for two people and their plus-ones at Baker’s Cay Resort in Key Largo. Each pair will get their own room with king-room accommodations
-Dinner for four people at Dry Rocks, the hotel’s beach side tequila and taco bar
-Rental of all dive equipment except mask, fins and thermal protection
-Lunch spent inside Aquarius Reef Base

Dives will be arranged on a mutually agreed date decided by package winners and Aquarius Reef Base operations personnel.

Restrictions:

Must be over 18 years old
Must be a certified scuba diver
Must be covered by medical insurance
Must be cleared by a physician to dive

Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Aquarius Reef Base and Friends of Rookery Bay, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Rookery Bay Research Reserve one of the last undisturbed estuaries in North America. The live auction will take place at the Rookery Bay Bash. Online bidding will start March 6th. Minimum bids will start at $3,000. To place bids online please visit the following link.


For more information please visit this News article. If you have any questions about this opportunity please feel free to reach out to FIU Administrator Cathy Guinovart at cguinova@fiu.edu. Lastly, please help us share this opportunity by forwarding this email to people who may be interested.


(Note: the Chairman of Scuba Board has approved this post)
 

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What a great, great opportunity for some ScubaBoardians!
 
I have visited this facility. Absolutely fascinating! Great opportunity.
 
I have visited this facility. Absolutely fascinating! Great opportunity.
Tell us you have pics you can share here! Same with @Cathy Guinovart and @FIU CCOR!

As an aside: I taught Cathy and her brother how to dive, many, many moons ago and she now works at FIU CCOR. I am proud to have been a small part of her career and am looking forward to many, many more updates on this and other projects! You go science for us, girl! :D :D :D
 
Here are some pics from 2008, when NOAA and UNCW were still running the habitat.

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This is the area map, just off Key Largo. Depths run from about 55 to 110 ft.

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This is the Large Surface Buoy moored above the habitat, to supply power and comms.


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This is the main chamber of the habitat. Notice the porthole at the lower left, to give some scale.

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Dive peering into habitat through porthole.


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Diver beside gazebo, used as a stand-up toilet. The top half of the gazebo is an air bubble you can stand up into. You aim yourself down-current and feed the fish.

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The working vicinity has many guidelines (and tees!) so you don't get lost. It uses line arrows and cave-diving protocols....you are saturated if living in the habitat, so cannot surface without 17h of decompression.

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Items (including food!) can be delivered from the surface by putting them into a pressure pot and lowering it to the habitat from a surface-support vessel.
 
I'm not jealous. At all. Nope. Not a bit. No siree.
 
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