Exploring the Oceans: Adventures in Submarine Building and Diving

Summary

Shani Stopnitsky is a marine biologist who has dedicated her life to underwater exploration. She has built two submarines, Fangtooth and Noctiluca, and takes people on diving trips in them. Shani works on the submarines herself, fixing and modifying them along the way. Her love for underwater life comes from seeing creatures that are completely different from anything on land.

What inspired Shani to build her own submarines?
What are Fangtooth and Noctiluca named after?
How did Shani acquire Fangtooth and Noctiluca?
How do Fangtooth and Noctiluca function?
What is the safety protocol for diving in the submarines?
How does Shani go about repairing and modifying the submarines?
What do people experience when they dive in the submarines?
How did Fangtooth get stolen?
What are Shani’s future plans for submarine building and diving?

What inspired Shani to build her own submarines?

Shani Stopnitsky left her PhD program in marine biology because she wanted to explore the underwater world more deeply. She raised money to buy two submarines, named Fangtooth and Noctiluca. For Shani, exploring underwater was pure magic and she felt like she could live there forever. She felt fully immersed and obsessed with the idea of exploring the seas in experimental submarines.

What are Fangtooth and Noctiluca named after?

Fangtooth is named after a monstrous deep-sea fish, while Noctiluca is named after a bioluminescent dinoflagellate responsible for the sea sparkle. Shani chose the names based on the characteristics of each submarine. Each submarine has its own character and its own things that it can do.

How did Shani acquire Fangtooth and Noctiluca?

Fangtooth was a homemade submarine that Shani found for sale for $4,000. She and her team took on the task of fixing it up and modifying it themselves. Noctiluca was commissioned by the Swedish Army, then passed through the hands of the anti-whaling activist group, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. It eventually ended up with some amateur submarine enthusiasts, who sold it to Shani.

How do Fangtooth and Noctiluca function?

Fangtooth is a simple system with a few levers. It has four ballast tanks filled with air that keep the sub afloat on the surface. When the ballast tanks are flooded with water, the sub sinks. Noctiluca has a pneumatic system and a high-pressure air system, but currently has a couple of air leaks.

What is the safety protocol for diving in the submarines?

The max bottom time is 15 minutes, and after 20 minutes, rescue must be initiated. It’s easy to get oneself into trouble if one doesn’t know how to rescue themselves out of the submarines. Shani emphasizes the safety risks of sub diving, but also notes that they are actually safer than people think.

How does Shani go about repairing and modifying the submarines?

Shani works on the submarines herself, fixing and modifying them along the way. Both Fangtooth and Noctiluca needed a lot of work when Shani acquired them. Fangtooth was made from parts bought at a hardware store and needed new pneumatic valves. Noctiluca currently has a couple of air leaks in the pneumatic system and the high-pressure air system.

What do people experience when they dive in the submarines?

Shani notes that when a person is in one of the submarines, they transition from feeling anxious about controlling the sub to feeling a sense of peace and calm. The experience of being able to dive and explore the underwater world is unparalleled, and for Shani, it’s a magical experience.

How did Fangtooth get stolen?

Fangtooth was stolen one day, which prompted a frantic search by Shani to locate it. She had to call every single law enforcement person and ask them if they had seen a yellow submarine. The submarine was eventually located and returned to Shani, and she continues to work on it to improve its functions.

What are Shani’s future plans for submarine building and diving?

Shani hopes to get paid for diving and to teach people how to pilot submarines themselves. She wants to make submarine diving more accessible to people and inspire more people to explore the underwater world. She also wants to buy more submarines in the future.

Conclusion

Through Shani Stopnitsky’s passion for underwater exploration and her willingness to build and modify her own submarines, she has opened up a whole new world to herself and others. Submarine diving may be a niche hobby, but it is a unique and thrilling way to explore the oceans and discover creatures that are unlike anything on land. We can all learn from Shani’s determination to pursue her passion and make the underwater world more accessible to others.