Exploring the Deep Sea with Marine Biologist Shani Stopnitsky
Summary
In this article, we delve into the world of marine biologist Shani Stopnitsky, who is passionate about exploring the sea. She owns two submarines, Noctiluca and Fangtooth, and has spent over 9,000 hours underwater. Shani hopes to one day get paid for her hobby and wants to buy more submarines. We also learn about the DIY sub community and the risks involved in piloting submarines.
Table of Contents
- Shani Stopnitsky and her Submarines
- The DIY Sub Community
- Risks Involved in Piloting Submarines
- The Magic of the Deep Sea
Shani Stopnitsky and her Submarines
Shani Stopnitsky is a marine biologist who is passionate about exploring the sea. She owns two submarines, Noctiluca and Fangtooth. Fangtooth is a homemade sub that Shani and her team have taken out on about 50 dives. It has four ballast tanks filled with air that keep the sub afloat on the surface, but when Shani releases air from the tanks and floods them with water, it weighs down Fangtooth and lets it sink. Shani feels a sense of peace and contentment when she’s underwater and hopes to one day get paid for her hobby.
The DIY Sub Community
Fangtooth, an experimental-class submarine, has been painted white as a base coat for a new paint job by a street artist, making it more accessible and less intimidating. DIYers skip the costly certification process with experimental-class subs like Fangtooth. There are about 30 active DIY sub enthusiasts in the US, but it’s not easy to buy one as one needs to demonstrate competence and be part of the community. Naktaluka is the group’s second submarine, commissioned by the Swedish Army and passed on to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society before ending up with amateur enthusiasts. It has some minor leaks and needs retrofitting to go deeper. Fangtooth was stolen, causing a frantic search by law enforcement to find it.
Risks Involved in Piloting Submarines
The speaker warns that it is easy to get into trouble without knowing how to rescue oneself, and expresses relief that someone was retrieved by the Emeryville police. Shani is working on Fangtooth and Noctiluca, and wants to buy more submarines. For her, it is not just about teaching the public how to pilot these vessels, but also about exploring the magical and alien creatures that inhabit the deep sea. These creatures have behaviors, textures, and colors that are utterly captivating and unlike anything found on land.
The Magic of the Deep Sea
Shani Stopnitsky is passionate about exploring the deep sea and the creatures that inhabit it. She finds a sense of peace and contentment when she’s underwater and hopes to one day get paid for her hobby. The deep sea is home to magical and alien creatures with behaviors, textures, and colors that are unlike anything found on land. Shani wants to continue exploring the deep sea with her submarines and hopes to inspire others to do the same.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Shani Stopnitsky is a marine biologist who is passionate about exploring the deep sea with her submarines. She is part of the DIY sub community and hopes to inspire others to explore the deep sea. However, there are risks involved in piloting submarines, and it is important to know how to rescue oneself. Despite the risks, Shani finds a sense of peace and contentment when she’s underwater and hopes to one day get paid for her hobby.
