News

June 2010

SCUBAnauts participate in 7th Annual NABS Youth Education Summit

The SCUBAnauts, Mary and Jessica Silk (St. Petersburg Chapter) and Ashley Hilbert (Tarpon Springs Chapter) attended the 7th Annual Youth Education Summit for the National Association of Black SCUBA Divers (NABS) in Florida City. This 5 day summit was in conjunction with NOAA, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. There were close to 50 youth and adults in attendance. The youth attended classes on coral reefs and underwater archeology. They also participated in a beach clean-up and took an airport ride in the Everglades, while learning about the Miccosukee Indians.

Capitol Hill Ocean Week: Focus on Clean Energy and Celebrating the Life of Jacques-Yves Cousteau!

Twenty SCUBAnauts from three Chapters (St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs and Lake Hitchcock attended Capital Hill Oceans Week in Washington, DC. Capital Hill Oceans Week (CHOW) sponsored by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF), provides our 'nauts with a great opportunity to meet ocean explorers, science and policy leaders. SCUBanauts attended the NMSF Awards Dinner. This year's dinner was especially significant as it marked the 10th anniverary of the NMSF as well as the 100th anniversary of Jacques-Yves Cousteau's birth. The SCUBAnauts even had the opportunity to meet with the Cousteau family including Jean Michel, Fabien and Phillipe. The SCUBAnauts attended CHOW sessions led by energy experts. They also had the opportunity to meet with three Representatives of Florida, Congresswoman Corrine Brown (FL-3), Congressman Allen Boyd (FL-2), and Congresswoman Kathy Castor (FL-11).

June 2009

Tampa Bay area chapters recognized at Capitol Hill Ocean Week

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation invited students from the SCUBAnauts International Tampa Bay area chapters to their 7th annual leadership awards dinner held June 9, 2009 in Washington, D.C. The SCUBAnauts organization was recognized for it collective volunteer marine conservation and outreach efforts.

While in Washington, students discussed their work with Congressman Gene Taylor of Mississippi. They also spoke with Dr. Robert Ballard (National Geographic Explorer in Residence), the scientist who discovered the Titanic, as well as other marine conservation and science experts. Students learned about current marine research and ocean conservation issues by participating in Capitol Hill Ocean Week scientific seminars.

The photo shows the participating SCUBAnauts at the leadership awards dinner with Dr. Robert Ballard (center middle), and Dr. Billy Causey (NOAA Superintendent of Southeast National Marine Sanctuaries; center bottom).

February 2009

SCUBAnauts win third place at the National Ocean Science Bowl regional competition (Spoonbill Bowl)! SCUBAnauts Sean Deeb and Nick Johnson partnered with Morgan Liston, Ben Prueitt, and Brooke Liston from the Tarpon Springs Chapter to make all of us proud. In only their second year in the competition, they placed third among sixteen teams.