The History of Diving Museum in Islamorada will host submersible pilot and ROV engineer Don Liberatore for an “Immerse Yourself” presentation on submersibles for science on Wednesday, July 16 at 7 p.m.
Liberatore began his 34-year career in human-occupied submersibles at Harbor Branch Foundation in Fort Pierce in October 1977. Since then, he has worked for Deep Sea Systems Inc., a division of Oceaneering International, as well as the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration and others.
He logged more than 1,780 dives as a submersible pilot in five different vehicles, hundreds more as a pilot-trainer and more than 200 as Johnson-Sea-Link diver/tender.
This talk will cover a brief history of the submersibles Johnson-Sea-Link I and II, which began their operational careers as Diver Lock Out Systems dedicated to marine science. Liberatore will also give an explanation of what a diver lock out system is and how it works, as well as its benefits and limitations. In addition, guests will learn about some of the tools developed to recover items from up to 3,000 feet below the ocean’s surface and highlights from such missions.
The museum will have extended hours on “Immerse Yourself” night, with the exhibits open until 6:45 p.m. The “Celebrating 20 Years!” featured exhibit explores what it took to create the world’s largest collection of diving equipment on public display, as well as how diving has evolved since the museum’s opening.
Those interested in attending the lecture, either in person or via Zoom, can visit divingmuseum.org to register. This session will also be recorded and posted to the HDM YouTube channel. This month’s Immerse Yourself sponsors are Patti & David Gross.
The museum, in Islamorada at MM 83, has 14 core exhibits plus two annual limited-time featured exhibits as well as a museum store.
