People of all ages and from all walks of life are familiar with the lost city of Atlantis. Some 2370 years ago, Plato described the location as a “Utopian society” in need of nothing. The land was fertile in every way possible. The beauty was unprecedented and the city flourished with food, flowers, and animals.
After conquering North Africa and Europe, the greedy and corrupt leaders of Atlantis set their swords to Egypt and Athens. The persistent Athenian army subsequently beat Atlantis and drove them back to their Utopian world to recover. The unfortunate loss to Athens would prove to be a minor set back in comparison to what they would encounter shortly after their retreat. A series of destructive earthquakes created gigantic tidal waves and massive flooding destroyed Athens and wiped the continent of Atlantis off of the map. Imagine an entire continent reportedly displaced within one day and one night.
Was Atlantis once a real city? Many scientist, doctors, and professors bet their reputations on its existence. Others simply explain it as Plato’s effort to express his views on war and corruption. What are your thoughts? Was it a real city? Is it still out there? I don’t have the answer to that one, but I do know that there are plans in the works for Atlantis II, Project Atlantica.
Project Atlantica is the first of its kind. The goal is to establish a permanent human settlement in the sea. Don’t confuse this to a part time stop and flop underwater hotel. For the first time in history, families will live permanently within the confines of Atlantica. Children will be born, go to schools and live their lives with their families underwater on the seabed within the settlement community.
The first stage of the project began May 1st, 2009. The Leviathan Habitat was submerged along with two aquanauts, Dennis Chamberland and Terrence Tysall.
The second stage will begin Monday July 7th, 2012 off the coast of Florida. Three aquanauts will begin their 90-day underwater mission called Atlantica I. If successful, they will establish a new world record for an uninterrupted underwater mission. The Leviathan will be used for their 90-day mission. The Leviathan was engineered to support permanent human stay within the underwater world.
Let’s meet the crew of the Leviathan Habitat that will embark on their mission July 7th, 2012. First, Dennis Chamberland will be the Mission Commander. Dennis is a 12-year veteran of undersea missions and is a former US Naval Officer and a civilian nuclear engineer. Dennis is an architect of the Atlantica Expeditions and is an advanced life support systems engineer.
Next, Claudia S. Chamberland will be the Executive Officer for the mission. Claudia is a former US Army Major and a graduate of Mercer University and the US Command and General Staff College. She is one of the first woman Army Paratroopers and is also an experienced Aquanaut.
Last, Art Ortolan will be the Chief of Diving Operations. Art brings his former law enforcement experience to the mission along with being an experienced aquanaut and an explorer of reportedly numerous frontiers.
During their 90-day stay the crew will be participating in educational links with students in classrooms around the country. Environmental monitoring and advanced life support systems will be utilized during the mission. There are 10 phases they will follow that will construct the philosophy, mission plans, hardware construction, educational resources, testing, aquatic environment for the mission with the ultimate goal being to ready the environment to permanently sustain human life.
Statistical information: Combined logged Aquanaut Missions +8500; Number of Certified Aquanauts 22; Number of Certified Astronauts 2; Professional Drivers 6; Certified SCUBA Dive Instructors 2; Professional Educators 8; Physicians and Psychologists 3; Scientists 8; Engineers 6; Documentary Film and Motion Picture Producers 5; Students Grades 7-Graduate 7; Youngest Age Crewmember 10; Oldest Crewmember 86; Nations Represented 7 (US, Canada, Malta, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Guatemala); Average Age 41
Your t.w.i.n. blog is very informative.
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