SURF - A New Tool for Undersea Research

In response to urgent needs from marine scientists, a new program-SURF-is being developed to assist in undersea research. This program will train and place scientists on the sea floor at depths to 50 meters initially and to several hundred meters eventually. SURF´s immediate preparations future planning calls for such systems as surface supplied air, open bell diving chambers, deck decompression facilities and submersibles. This program is being built jointly by the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, NOAA´s Undersea Research Program and the SECURE Consortium. Published results of undersea research sponsored by the program are expected to enhance fisheries management, environmental planning, seabed development and diving medicine.