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Rolex Double Red Sea Dweller

A Close Call

 

Rolex Double Red Sea Dweller watch

In May 1974, I was living with three other aquanauts for two weeks at a depth of 100 feet in an underwater habitat named La Chalupa. We were 10 miles off the southwest coast of Puerto Rico. The primary purpose of this mission was to test new excursion diving procedures for the first time in the open sea to depths of almost 300 feet.

We were breathing a nitrogen/oxygen mixture while in the habitat and air for the dives. The air passed through a 700-foot hose from the habitat into our special helmet. While on a dive, aquanauts used separate hoses and carried twin scuba tanks for safety backup.

Prior to the mission, a couple of friends, who were also navy divers, taught me how to ditch the helmet in the event of an emergency.

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James W. Miller, Ph.D. - Science - 1986

Image of James Miller PHD

Jim Miller was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He came into the world in 1927 along with Babe Ruth's home run record and Lindbergh's first transatlantic flight. Living in a depression/Word War II era middle class neighborhood, Jim participated in several sports throughout school, specializing in gymnastics and competitive swimming. This helped a lot in later years when he took up diving.

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La Chalupa Research Laboratory

 

LaChalupta research laboratry


In the early 1970s, Ian Koblick, president of Marine Resources Development Foundation, developed and operated the La Chalupa research laboratory, which was the largest and most technologically advanced underwater habitat of its time. Koblick, who has continued his work as a pioneer in developing advanced undersea programs for ocean science and education, is the co-author of the book "Living and Working in the Sea" and is considered one of the foremost authorities on undersea habitation.
In the mid 1980s La Chalupa was transformed into Jules Undersea Lodge. Jules' co-developer Dr. Neil Monney formerly served as Professor and Director of Ocean Engineering at the U.S. Naval Academy, and has extensive experience as a research scientist, aquanaut, and designer of underwater habitats. Jules' has had over 10,000 overnight guests in its 20 years of operation.