View a recap of T4O's activity in 2011!

Aquarius Installation:

In June of 2011, Teens4Oceans brought down a 20-person group to Key Largo, Florida comprised of T4O student representatives, parents, and dive instructors to complete the second part of the Aquarius Install Project. In addition to focusing on the deployment of our two PTZ high-definition cameras on the Aquarius Reef Base, Teens4Oceans was busy getting more of its students PADI certified. With the help of Ocean First Divers, Teens4Oceans got eight of its students PADI Advanced Open Water certified, as well as two students PADI Open Water certified. In addition, Teens4Oceans was ecstatic to be joined by two students and their instructor from the New York Harbor School, which is situated on Governor’s Island. The relationship between Teens4Oceans and the New York Harbor School began in May of 2011 during the Blue Vision Summit Conference located in Washington, D.C. Cesar Gutierrez, Jericsson Pichardo, and their instructor Joe Gessert were extremely helpful and an important addition to the Teens4Oceans crew.

Prior to the install, the group visited the onshore Aquarius Control Station, and was briefed for the upcoming dives on the Aquarius site. In addition to the amazing dives on the Aquarius Reef Base, the group dove on a shipwreck called the U.S.S. Spiegel Grove, and on numerous reefs located near the Key Largo area. For most of the students, the dive on U.S.S. Spiegal Grove resulted in the deepest depth of their scuba diving career, some students getting to depths of over 100 feet below the surface. With the certifications complete and the two cameras deployed, the group ventured south to Bahia Honda, Florida on the last day. After arriving, a transect survey of the reef was conducted as well as a maintenance check to the Teens4Oceans camera located there. The trip was extremely successful on many fronts and T4O is thrilled to use these cameras as lenses into the ocean, allowing us to produce unique educational material for students of all ages. Finally, Teens4Oceans looks forward to continuing to build its relationship with the New York Harbor School and all the amazing people involved there.

T4O Aquarius June Installation from Teens4Oceans on Vimeo.

T4O Aquarius December Survey from Teens4Oceans on Vimeo.