Thursday, January 12, 2012

Oyster Bash to Save SeaLab

From the January 12th Panama City 9Fl) News Herald "Saving Sealab" by Jessica McCarthy.

"A piece of local and marine history is decaying and in desperate need of rehabilitation.

The SeaLab 1 sea floor habitat changed he limits for divers and researchers, leading saturation diving, staying on the ocean floor for days or weeks at a time."

It is today located the Man in the Sea Museum on Back Beach Road (US-98). A two-year campaign to refurbish it kicks off Jan. 20th with a $25 all-you can eat Oyster Bash. It is estimated that $250,000 will be needed to return it to good condiion.

The lab is "corroding, rusting and wearing away. he access hole, through which divers entered and left the structure also allows birds, animals and even the homeless to set up temporary residence.

They're hoping to have he whole thing completed by 2014, the 50th anniversary of its creation.

"It was built in 1964 by a team of engineers under the direction of Dr. George Bnd and a team of divers., including Bob Barth who will speak at the Bash.

I've driven by the museum several times, but never stopped in. I didn't realize how important this relic was.

Perhaps This Time. --Cooter

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