Dumbo Octopus near 2000ft

At 610m depth- yes, that’s right- we discovered the deepness of the world.

However, to get there was a long way. First of all, we finally left our car in Belize with a mechanic and were free again. In our usual rush tempo we headed to Honduras. After 3 days travelling almost non-stop we reached the island Roatan. Another Caribbean dream, unfortunately most dreams are pricy. Anyway, the decision for Roatan was clear because of one reason. Karl Stanley takes tourist with his sub Idabel on underwater expedition to a depth of 300m, 460m and 610m. One of my dreams since childhood came true when we decided to go on an expedition. Only two other subs worldwide are open for public and Stanley is the only one who goes to 610m. With great anticipations and a good portion of adrenaline the adventure could start.

Read more at:
http://www.thebestworldtrip.com/en/component/content/article/199.html

There are plenty of people with a fascination for exploring the ocean depths. It takes an extraordinary — and quite possibly eccentric — person to actually do so in a submarine they built themselves. American Karl Stanley is that individual. He began building his first sub, the C-BUG (Controlled by Buoyancy Underwater Glider), while still in college, tracking down parts from dusty warehouses and phoning experts for advice.

He made hundreds of dives in C-BUG before completing his second sub, the Idabel, on Roátan island, Honduras. It’s in the Idabel that he now takes plucky tourists down to a maximum of 610 m. The depth is unprecedented for nonprofessionals, but as a sign on Stanley’s shed reads: GO DEEPER.

There is a caveat. Stanley’s sub has not been certified by any authority. You board at your own risk. But he’s had two decades of experience in submarines and hasn’t lost a passenger yet.

Read more at:
http://www.time.com/time/travel/article/0,31542,2065195,00.html#ixzz1K6h9ROj9

Though many people visit Roatan for their love of the ocean, most often their love remains shallow and superficial. As opposed to the mere 130-foot depths explored by Roatan scuba divers, the world’s oceans have an average depth of over 14,000 feet. Most of the planet is covered in waters that have never seen light and are inhabited by otherworldly animals adapted to this extreme environment. Currently the most accessible point for people to explore this world for themselves is right here on Roatan.

To better understand the uniqueness of the Roatan Institute of Deep-sea Exploration (RIDE) and its current submersible Idabel, it is useful to have a brief history of submersibles. It was in the 1960s that modern submersibles were born, that interest was at the highest in exploring the ocean, (as well as space one could add), and that most developments in submersible design were made as well as in vehicles. It was during this time the submersible Alvin was launched that famously found the Titanic (1964), and the standing record for deep submergence was made by the Trieste to the bottom of the Marianas Trench (1960). In 1968, six men spent over a month drifting 1500 miles in the Gulf stream in a submersible named the Ben Franklin. Television regularly featured the exploits of Cousteau piloting his diving saucer and living underwater in the Conshelf habitats. In short, it was an exciting time to be exploring underwater.

Read more at:
http://www.bayislandsvoice.com/201001.htm