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ED THE BEAR UNDERWATER CRAFT

Not in my, or Ed the Bear's, wildest dreams did we ever think that Ed the Bear would get so many chances to  explore the underwater world first hand. From coral reefs to ship wrecks Ed has ​dived beneath waves and come face to face with marine life.

This has been thanks first and foremost to some very clever and dedicated people who organised and built Ed's underwater craft. This page is a celebration (and a thank you) to the people who made this possible.

It was during Ed the Bears stay with NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration) in USA (2010) that Ed received his first and main diving craft. This was organsied by NOAA and built by Ed Williams whom at the time worked for a company called IRobot who built underwater remote operated craft.

In 2012 Ed visited South Africa and became a student and participated in a marine heritage training course run by SAHRA South African Hertiage Resource Agency. We were unable to get Ed the Bears diving bell out to him in time, so the support divers Frog Squad came to his rescue and built him a temporary underwater scooter. Frog Squad are a team of expert divers who have  helped underwater film makers by coming up with solutions to filming movies etc.

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So Ed the Bears underwater scooter was all in a days work for the Frog Squad Team. 

With the help of NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration) Ed the Bear has worked with the Tennessee Aquatic Project who work with at risk and vulneable youth in the USA. He has in particular visited the National Black Suba Divers Youth  Education Summit and has been a valuable part of the the weeks activities. On most occasions, Ed teh Bera was able to particpate with his iconic diving bell.
 
The Tennesee Aquatic project also runs a programme called Youth Dive with Purpose
and in 2014 Ed the Bear partcipated in two very exciting projects the youths were
involved with. The first was a survey of a ship wreck the second project was helping
to restore a coral reef.
 
The full story can be seen on the weblog, there are a few pictures below.
 
                                                                                            This is an ongoing project to document a ship wreck, that until now has not be surveyed. Before they can even set foot in the water the youths have to learn a wide range of survey methods such as trilateration which uses the Side-Side-Side (maths) Theorem to generate a map to scale of the shipwreck.

SHIP WRECK SURVEY

                                                                                        The youths take part in a project to help restore damaged coral reefs. Corals are grown articficially and then transplanted out onto the reef where they will grow. The youths have to practice these techniques in teh classroom and then apply what they have learned during the dives.

CORAL REEF RESTORATION PROJECT

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