Fabien Cousteau, ocean explorer, filmmaker and first grandson of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, is getting ready for a new adventure. This November, he and five others will head to the Florida Keys to live underwater for 31 days.
The current record is held by Jacque Cousteau himself. He proved that living underwater could be done after remaining submerged in the Red Sea for 30 days aboard the Conshelf II. Mission 31 will be a full day longer and 30 feet deeper.
The aquanauts living in Aquarius will conduct research on the effects of climate change on corals, sponges and sea life, map the seafloor, and study the physiological impacts of living underwater in a high-pressure environment without sunlight for a whole month.
All of the lessons learned during Mission 31 will be brought to the surface. The discovers will be shared live with thousands of students around the world. Many lucky classrooms will have live Skype sessions with the aquanauts.
Mission 31 will also provide lesson plans on ocean topics such as marine ecosystems and biodiversity, technology under the sea, the effects of climate change and ocean acidification, the importance of marine protected areas and sustainable seafood.
Learn more about Mission 31 from Fabien Cousteau in the following video:
Want to see what it’s like down there? Check out this live stream from Aquarius Reef Base!
Be sure to check back for updates as Mission 31 begins!
Copyright © 2013 by Marine Science Today, a publication of Marine Science Today LLC.