Exploring the Deep Sea with Captain Karl Stanley

Sinking to the deepest ocean may have been one of Christopher Columbus’s biggest nightmares. For Captain Karl Stanley it is a dream come true. In a submarine he built himself, Captain Stanley explores one of the last unknown places on earth—the deep sea.

Captain Stanley lives on the island of Roatan, Honduras. There he runs the Roatan Institute of Deepsea Exploration. The geography of this area makes it a good place for deep-sea exploration by submarine. The island is on top of a coral reef. The water is very deep close to the shore. Captain Stanley explores the reef and the deep waters aboard his submarine, Idabel. We had the honor of interviewing Captain Stanley about his remarkable adventures as a submarine captain and deep-sea explorer.

What first interested you in the deep sea?
I got the idea to build a submarine by reading a book when I was nine. The more I learned about how little of the ocean was explored the more curious I became. That motivated me to get started.

Tell us about building your first submarine, C-BUG.
I started making C-BUG (Controlled by Buoyancy Underwater Glider) at 15 in my parents’ backyard in New Jersey. It took 8 years because I had to make the money working after-school jobs. I finished it the same week I graduated college.

 

Captain Karl Stanley's first submarine, C-BUG

What is the deepest you have ever explored?
So far I have been to a depth of 2620 feet. That is 20 feet less than half a mile, which is how deep I plan to go.

What is the longest you have ever been underwater?
I have been down for up to 17 hours. In theory, if I was alone in the sub and it was only me using the air, I could stay for a week.

What is the coolest thing you have seen underwater?
Anytime I see something I have never seen before, and that I didn’t know existed prior to seeing it, that is the coolest thing to me.

Have you ever been afraid while you were underwater?
The most scared I have been in my subs was coming back through the channel at night in 8-foot waves. The potential for that to end badly was very high.

What supplies do you take with you on a submarine trip?
Well, air is the big one. On longer trips I bring some compact discs or an MP3 player and snacks.

 

Captain Stanley's submarine Idabel, ready for another trip under the sea

What do you wear in the submarine?
On dives to 1000 feet, just shorts and a t-shirt are fine. For deeper trips and especially ones to see six-gill sharks, the temperature can get below 50 degrees in the sub, so you have to have warm clothes. For shark dives I wear a snowmobile suit because I am not used to the cold anymore.

What is the hardest part about being a submarine captain?
It is a lot of responsibility. I always wonder if I have done everything I need to make the submarine safe. Also, you could do everything right, but the deep ocean can be a very dangerous environment. It is like going to space. Even if everything is done right, there is always a chance of the unexpected happening.

Why do you think deep-sea exploration is important?
Two-thirds of the planet we call home is underwater. Not knowing what is there would be like living in a garage and never knowing what was in the main part of the house. Also, if you are not curious, how will you learn new things?

What will your next adventure be?
I would like a larger sub with which I can go greater distances. I also would like each of my dives to be to an area no one has ever been.

What places do you hope to explore someday? Would you like to see the deep ocean or fly to the farthest star? Captain Stanley shows us that by working hard, dreaming big, and being curious, we all might someday find a place that no one else has ever been. Thanks, Captain Stanley!

For more information about Captain Stanley, his submarines, and the Roatan Institute for Deepsea Exploration visit www.stanleysubmarines.com.

TLX News Journal Geography Activity:

Captain Stanley uses a submarine to explore. Think of a new type of vehicle that you could use to explore a new place. Draw a picture of your new vehicle.