Author: oceanopportunity
New Blog in Beta
We invite you to share ideas and feedback regarding our programs. As we get in the field on expeditions, this blog will provide an open forum to share the results of our work in as near real-time as possible. This blog is under development. Stay tuned! Dop a note, and enjoy! ML
Read MoreMaking Headlines | Diving a Dream
Matthew Johnston partners with Ocean Opportunity Inc., and with the culmination of 3 years of hard work and dedication, he becomes the world’s first ventilator dependent diver. The project is featured on NBC’s Today Show in January 2007. The project was a critical demonstration of advances in adaptive diving, and perhaps more importantly, the ability to…
Read MorePast to Present | first CCR dives on Lee Stocking Island
In 2004, Lombardi fights an uphill battle to gain approval to dive closed-circuit rebreathers under institutional auspices at NOAA’s Caribbean Marine Research Center. The effort results in new standards established for the organization, liability issues mitigated, and the first CCR dives conducted for science at this NURP facility.
Read MorePast to Present | Lusca’s Breath
Lombardi provides cave diving support at several locations in Exumas, Bahamas for Dr. Marc Slattery of the University of Mississippi, and during subsequent field projects for private biotechnology companies. Numerous new sponge species are discovered which reveal potential in natural products discovery. This prompts a keen interest in the field, and an emerging professional interest…
Read MorePast to Present | Antarctica K068
Lombardi provides dive support for Antarctica K068, a cooperative research project between researchers at the University of New Hampshire and the University of Otago. The project investigated the effects of ultraviolet radiation on marine life below the Antarctic sea ice. Again faced with very real limitations in underwater efficiency, Lombardi continued to pursue innovations to…
Read MorePast to Present | Technical Diving for Science
Lombardi and Drs. Marc Slattery of the University of Mississippi and Michael Lesser of the University of New Hampshire make the first mixed-gas dives for science at NOAA’s Caribbean Marine Research Center. This marked a significant milestone in US government supported diving for science programs, where new operational standards were drafted for this NURC center.…
Read MoreBreakthrough Discovery | Fluorescent Mantis Shrimp
Lombardi, Albertson and McGauley work with Charlie Mazel on several night dives off of Lee Stocking Island during early experimentation of fluorescence discovery and imaging techniques. A fluorescent mantis shrimp was discovered preying on a small fish, and resulted in among the first descriptions of the functional role of fluorescence in the marine environment.
Read MorePast to Present | Mycobacterium Marinum
Lombardi suffers a deep gash on his right hand while working in a dirty marina. Several months later, a deep tissue infection reveals itself. A lengthy surgery and several months of strong antibiotics are required to fend off the Mycobacterium marinum infection. This results in further questions about career direction and how to improve health…
Read MorePast to Present | Working Dives
In summer 1996, Lombardi literally thumbed through the phonebook and called numerous dive companies looking for summer employment to gain more experience. Coastal Diving Services, recently acquired by Lyle Smith, hired him to do a variety of light tasks such as hullcleanings and mooring work. Lombardi completed in excess of 100 dives that summer, mostly…
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