AD 2016 Q1

UNEXPECTED DIVES
While freshwater sites can be perceived as
mundane and lacking biodiversity, I have
many vibrant photos of the aquatic life I
saw on these sites. The blind crawfish in
Florida’s Peacock Springs were as strange as
they sound. Spotted gar in Texas, salmon
in Alaska and rainbow trout in Missouri
likewise were fun to observe. The weirder
the animal, the more excited I got.
The most surprising site I dived was Puget
Sound in Washington. Cold water is home to
some of the largest life I’ve seen. Big plumose
anemones reach for nutrients in the green
water, while crustaceans dominate the seafloor
and lion’s mane jellyfish rise from the deep.
The farther north I ventured, the vaster
the landscape grew. Alaska is the USA’s
greatest wilderness. I spent a week above
and below in Alaska, the longest trip on my
quest. I left there reluctantly with a vow to
return. In just one week I
saw harbor seals, Steller
sea lions, sea otters,
puffins, bald eagles, wolves,
grizzly bears, caribou,
moose, starfish, lion’s mane
jellyfish, salmon and more.
A FEW LESSONS
America is still wild.
Nature is unforgiving.
Some of my dive sites
were in national parks,
and nearly all were in
remote places with poor
cell phone reception.
Guides and park rangers
taught me a lot about how to interact with
wildlife. This was important for creating
both ethical and high-quality images. I
made every effort to leave no trace on dive
sites and in wilderness areas.
I prepared for each trip by bringing supplies
such as gallons of water, a spare battery to selfjump
my car and kitty litter for tire traction in
icy conditions. Some items I brought were life
sustaining, while others were for comfort. I
also brought a giant toolbox full of everything
I would need to maintain and repair my gear
while on the road.
Not every location includes a nearby
dive shop, although I stopped at a few to
save a dive. In Colorado I picked up a dive
float since I had forgotten mine at home.
Some sites require that you set or swim
with a dive flag — be sure to familiarize
yourself with relevant state laws and local
regulations for diving at any site.
If I undertook this journey again I would
allow for more travel time. Constant time
constraints pushed my limits. By working
tired, I broke or lost something in nearly
every state.
WHAT’S NEXT?
I completed my quest in four years, six
months and two days. When I finished, I had
built up so much momentum preparing for
dives and getting on the road that I didn’t
quite realize I had completed the journey. I
was simultaneously tired, happy and eager
for the next steps.
The adventures I had
and divers I met on my
journey are helping me
define my future goals. I
hope to work on Arctic
expeditions and in coldwater
environments. My
ice-diving experience will
help me reach goals beyond
the 50-state adventure.
I am working this winter
to finish my book for
release in 2016. I’ll start
the year speaking at dive
shows and conferences —
I hope to see you at my
Our World-Underwater presentations in
either Chicago or Texas. I’ll announce future
speaking engagements on Facebook and on
my website, uwDesigner.com.
GET OUT THERE AND DIVE
I seek to help others understand the
underwater world through my photography
and design and by sharing my exploration. My
journey across the country was enriched by
local divers who shared new and interesting
places to dive. I encourage you to visit a local
dive site and start your own adventure. AD
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