UNDERWATER PERFORMANCE

IMMERSION | DIVING | AQUANAUTICS | SUBSPACE PILOTING

Exhibition | Performance | Residency
saltwaterfreshwater | Central TAFE Gallery Exhibition & Residency | Perth, WA | 2007
Protect our Ocean | Wilderness Society of Western Australia | Perth, WA | 2007
Kick Arts Residency | Courthouse Arts Centre | Busselton Jetty & Underwater Observatory | Busselton, WA | 2003

Research | Accreditation | Presentations
S206 Certificate II Transport & Distribution (Maritime Operations) | Challenger TAFE, WA Maritime Training Centre | Fremantle | 2007
Neutral Bouyancy EVA Sim | Bas-Rhin Facilities | France 2006
PADI | Recreational Diver | Perth Diving Academy | 2002
ADAS 2 | Commercial Diver | The Underwater Centre, Fremantle | 2002

Papers | Talks | Publications
Body Shock: from Subspace to Outerspace Seminar | School of Anatomy & Human Biology | The University of Western Australia | 2007
Performance and the Environment | Articulate Series | Edith Cowan University | 2007
BLUE05 | Underwater Performance Behaviour & Limits | Pisa | Italy | 2005

A LifeScience Dept activity led by Sheryl Bishop, Ph.D. (Assoc. Prof, Social Psychologist, University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston & Curriculum Director, Life Sciences faculty ISU) at the Summer Session Program at the International Space University, Strasbourg 2006. Students were divided into teams to conduct an underwater simulation of an outerspace mission activity. The tasks related to the types of requirements particular to an "outside" Hubble Repair mission where the astronaut (played by our scuba-wearing aquanauts) ventured out into a weightess environment (simulated by the altered bouyancy conditions of the tank) and worked as a team to "fix the problem". Our team "won" by timing and efficiency, however we "fixed" the wrong component!! The real winners of the exercise however, were the students who overcame personal fear, physical limitation and inexperience, to rise to the challenge. I was incredibly moved by the courage, compassion and teamwork displayed by my colleagues during this workshop. It was the highlight of my time at ISU second to the astronauts panel (see Space & Art).


ADAS Part 2 Occupational Diver Training, The Underwater Centre, Fremantle 2002

I commenced 'Aquabatics' by becoming a fully qualified commercial diver (in accordance with ADAS 1, 2R [Aus] and HSE 3, 4 [UK] standards). This ticket qualifies me to perform ‘work ’ using both self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) and surface-supplied breathing apparatus (SSBA) to a depth of 30m breathing from compressed AIR. In 2002, I logged over 1693 minutes underwater as a trainee Occupational Diver and approx 120 professional and recreational dives as a qualified ADAS P1 & 2R, PADI Rescue Diver, Advanced Diver & Open Water diver. I am also certified in the maintenance of Diving Systems International (DSI) helmets and band masks and I have gained experience as a PADI Dive Master on board Lion Fish IV, Perth Diving Academy. At the time of writing, I hold St. John Senior First Aid and Advanced Oxygen Resuscitation certification, current Occupational Diving Medical Clearance, an up-to-date Log Book and in-date commercial diver qualification.- 2007

The underwater ‘work’ that I am trained for includes industry standard lifting, inspection and measurement techniques, conducting underwater surveys, search schemes, maintenance of underwater tools, the use of hand tools & power tools including: welding equipment, pneumatic and hydraulic tools, salvage and construction equipment; understanding therapeutic decompression tables, physiology, first aid, relevant legislation and guidance, physics of diving, inspection and maintenance of personal equipment, pre and post dive checks, open water dives in various equipment, diving hazards, emergencies, applications of decompression tables, diver attendant duties, standby diver duties, surface team member duties, seamanship, small boat handling, hand and voice communication, compressed air supply, diving panels, gas cylinder filing, safety precautions, compression chambers, and experience undertaking chamber dives - essential techniques, skills, experiences and requirements for underwater artists! - This overview was based on the Course description at www.tucf.com.au accessed 2004.

TUCF ADAS Part 2 Occupational diver trainee Pell with spacecraft in Victoria Quay, Fremantle, 2002. Photo David Lee.

Click picture for close up view

021- 1 | DIVER TRAINING | 2002 ADAS1 | The Underwater Centre Fremantle | SCUBA Dave | Sarah | Lin | Blaise | Occupational Diver Training | TUCF | Victoria Quay | 2002 Photo Dave Lee

021- 2 | DIVER TRAINING | 2002 ADAS2 | The Underwater Centre Fremantle | SSBA Sarah Jane Pell Occupational Diver Training | TUCF | Victoria Quay | 2002 Photo Dave Lee

021- 3 | DIVER TRAINING | 2002 ADAS1 | The Underwater Centre Fremantle | SCUBA Sarah | Lin | Occupational Diver Training | TUCF | Logue Brooke Dam | 2002 Photo Dave Lee

021- 4 | DIVER TRAINING | 2002 ADAS1 | The Underwater Centre Fremantle | SCUBA Dave | Sarah | Blaise | Lin | Occupational Diver Training | TUCF | Victoria Quay | 2002 Photo Dave Lee