Exploration has always fascinated mankind. Going beyond their
borders, early explorers crossed vast deserts, oceans and ice floes
to see what was around the corner.
Exploration has always fascinated mankind. Going beyond their borders, early explorers crossed vast deserts, oceans and ice floes to see what was around the corner.
As exploration advanced, so did the methods of transportation. First, beasts such as horses and camels were used. Then along came trains, automobiles and airplanes. We’ve even gone to the moon, something only dreamed of in generations past.
But our Earth’s own ocean still remains a mystery. There are thousands of ships laid to rest at the bottom of the sea, undiscovered and untouched for decades, and there are probably underwater creatures yet to be discovered. The ocean is vast, covering a major portion of the Earth, yet everyday underwater travel is still a luxury to an appointed few. Submarines are not a method of travel open to regular travelers but instead area almost all used by the military. In some cases, mini-subs are used for deep sea exploration. But other than scuba diving or watching television specials, most people will not see the undersea world.
But inventor Graham Hawkes would like to change all that. He’s invented an underwater airplane called the Aviator that he hopes will be used by scientists to cover large areas of ocean.
Perhaps one day his underwater craft will be used by regular individuals wanting to get that glimpse of undersea life. It’s faster and designed differently than most underwater mini subs and can be launched from any boat, ship or beach.
Hawkes plans include using his Aviator to give rookie pilots a glimpse of life underwater in tourist-oriented flight schools, the first of which will be in the Bahamas. For $15,000, rookie pilots will get two days of underwater training along with a two-hour dive into the Tongue of the Deep, a 5,000-foot canyon sporting one of the world’s largest reefs.
As Hawkes continues to improve his Aviator, its uses would expand as well. Soon a weekend at the beach might include an underwater airplane ride, giving both young and old a glimpse of the world beneath the ocean’s surface. As use of these underwater airplanes increase, new rules would have to be put in place. In high-traffic areas, underwater lanes might be developed. I wonder if stoplights can be made waterproof?
It’s also exciting to think about all the different creatures that might be discovered. Since we’ve yet to go into every nook and cranny of the ocean, unusual creatures might be lurking near the bottom of the sea. These underwater mini-subs would guarantee a better glimpse of sea creatures as they go about their daily lives. What amazing new discoveries could be made as man gets to follow these amazing ocean creatures in their own territory. It’s one thing to go to an aquarium and another to see these animals in their own domain.
Treasure hunters would love these underwater airplanes as they’d spend hours searching for lost ships. Instead of using metal detectors on beaches, underwater craft would be used, along with sharp eyes, to look for ships lost at sea in centuries past. Old gold coins, pirates treasure, even the tankards sailors used to drink their ale are bound to be sitting somewhere at the bottom of the sea. What great fun it would be to sail above these treasures, and even more fun to actually bring some p to the surface for display at maritime museums.
Only time will tell if Hawkes’ invention becomes a daily part of ocean exploration. In the meantime, let’s hope there will always be inventors ready to build equipment for exploration, as well as those men and women ready to take the risks necessary expand the boundaries of our lives.
