[PSUBS-MAILIST] The REAL Captain Nemo...

At the risk of upsetting those who may find my commentary a waste of the valuable cyberspace they pay their hard earned money for, allow me to address those of you who have often expressed your supportive interest in my thoughts regarding the world of underwater technologies. I'd like to talk for a moment about a man whose name is familiar to us all: Dr. Phil Nuytten.

As many of you know, I've spent most of this year compiling material for a (hopefully) informative video about HOMEBUILT SUBMARINES. Insodoing, I've received a goodly amount of footage and stills from people at all levels of submersibles development: from "shadetree submarine builders" like myself; to major players in the tourist submarine industry such as ATLANTIS; and a full spectrum of commercial and sport sub organizations in-between. Before proceeding, allow me to say THANK YOU most sincerely to every single one of you who has been kind enough to grace my humble efforts with your contributions. My intent is to advance global public awareness and safety relative to civilian submersibles in general, and homebuilt submarines in particular. Together, I believe we will do much in furtherance of that worthy cause.

Moving on: this afternoon I received a package from Dr. Phil Nuytten containing his contribution to my video. At best, I was hoping for a few moments of footage showing Phil's subs in operation; something I could use to illustrate the highest state-of-the-art in submersible technologies today. Instead, what I received was 7.5 hours of video tape. I have only just scratched the surface of this great volume of information, but already, I have achieved an enlightenment I would like to share with you all.

The contrast between the levels of involvement reached by amateur submarine enthusiasts like myself, and top professionals like Dr. Nuytten, is nothing less than astounding. I've said "homebuilt submarines aint rocket science"; but what Phil and his associates do IS.

The major difference I see between NUYTCO and NASA is the physical directions their research takes them in; but the technologies involved in both are equally sophisticated, no doubt because (1) the extreme environments in which they operate (while diametrically opposed) are both totally hostile to human life; and (2) the penalty for failure in either domain is equally severe. As a craftsman, I find the levels of technical precision and expertise displayed by NUYTCO to be nothing less than inspiring; and while I recognize I can never achieve anything close to that kind of perfection, I can still have the great pleasure of observing and admiring it.

What I find additionally interesting about Dr. Nuytten's accomplishments is the fact that he is a "self-made man". Phil came up the hard way, a sole-proprietor salvage diver who went on to build what appears to be a multi-million dollar corporation presently commanding the absolute pinnacle of the research submersibles pyramid; and whose assistance is sought by not only the brightest minds in the scientific community, but the governments and leaders of nations, as well.

In light of my newly-enhanced perspective, I find the fact that, despite his awesome skill and success, Dr. Nuytten still finds time (and feels the need) to freely share his hard-earned knowledge with those of us who are paddling about at the shoreline of the abyss he calls home, nothing less than humbling. Clearly, after all he's created and accomplished, Phil still sees himself as "one of the guys", and he's not above bumping elbows with us rookies. Bravo!

I claim the World's first (and still the only) real submarine of Disney NAUTILUS configuration in any scale; a fact that has caused some to call me "Captain Nemo". I have accepted that honor and even expanded upon it. But let it be known that, within myself, I always knew there was a "tongue-in-cheek" aspect to it all. If I deserve to be called "Captain Nemo" at all, it is to the extent that my "toy" is a real submarine, and no further. There is a real Captain Nemo; but I'm not him.

I consider it extremely fortunate that Dr. Phil Nuytten is magnanimous enough to avail this group of his uniquely well-developed insight relative to submersible technologies. Here, this man is truly "a triton amongst minnows".