>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSERIS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

>> HELLO, EVERYBODY, I'M HUELL HOWSER.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS AN EXPERIENCE, A GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR US, WHEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL TO SPEND A DAY ON A CAMPUS, ESPECIALLY A COLLEGE CAMPUS.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WERE GOING TO DO TODAY.

WE HAVE COME DOWN HERE TO WILMINGTON, DOWN HERE TO THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES, AND WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE ENTIRE DAY IN SCHOOL, AND I GUARANTEE YOU THIS IS A SCHOOL UNLIKE ANY YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF FUN.

AND HERE WE ARE IN THE CLASSROOM.

THIS THE CLASSROOM, ISN'T IT, ALEK?

>> WELDING CLASSROOM.

>> OKAY.

LET'S LET EVERYBODY KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE WE KIND OF INTRODUCED THIS AS A COLLEGE THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER ANYWHERE AROUND IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

>> VERY TRUE, VERY TRUE.

THIS IS L.A. HARBOR WILMINGTON, AND THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN HERE SINCE 1967.

>> AND WHAT SCHOOL ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> COLLEGE OF OCEANEERING.

>> COLLEGE OF OCEANEERING, AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF OCEANEERING, YOU ARE TRAINING YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG WOMEN TO DO WHAT?

>> HEAVY-DUTY UNDERWATER WELDING, INSPECTION AND ALSO MEDICAL.

WE CALL IT MEDTEC.

>> SO THESE ARE PROFESSIONS YOU ARE TEACHING YOUNG PEOPLE TO--TO EARN THEIR LIVELIHOOD.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THIS IS NOT SCUBA.

THIS IS HEAVY-DUTY BUSINESS.

>> OKAY.

NOW, HOW LONG ARE THE STUDENTS IN SCHOOL?

>> ONE YEAR AND THEY ATTEND SCHOOL--EITHER MONDAY/WEDNESDAY OR TUESDAY/THURSDAY, EIGHT HOURS A DAY.

>> AND WHEN THEY GET OUT AFTER THAT YEAR, THEY'RE READY TO GO TO WORK.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> SO YOU TEACH THEM A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

FOR 30 WEEKS EVERYONE DOES THE SAME THING, AND THEN FOR 20 WEEKS, THEY TAKE THEIR SPECIALTY, EITHER SPECTECH, MEDTECH OR WELDTECH.

>> NOW, LOOKING OVER HERE, THESE GUYS HAD JUST COME UP FROM BEING UNDERWATER HERE IN THE HARBOR DOING WHAT?

>> UNDERWATER BURNING OR WELDING.

>> BURNING.

AND WE'RE AT THE BURNING PLACE RIGHT NOW, AND HERE IS MR.

BURN RIGHT HERE.

YOUR NAME, SIR, IS?

>> DUKE OGDEN >> NICE TO MEET YOU, SIR.

YOUR AREA OF INSTRUCTION, AND YOU'VE GOT STUDENTS BACK PRACTICING ON IT.

>> TOPSIDE WELDING, YES.

>> I USED THE WORD "WELDING," YOU CORRECTED ME A MINUTE AGO AND SAID I SHOULD SAY "BURNING," BUT THEN YOU JUST USED "WELDING."

>> IT'S BECAUSE WE DO BOTH.

WHEN THEY FIRST COME ON THE PROGRAM, THEY LEARN HOW TO BURN BOTH TOPSIDE AND UNDERWATER.

THAT'S THE CUTTING OF STEEL.

>> SO YOU CAN WELD UNDERWATER?

>> YES.

THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE DOWN IN THE WELDING BARGE RIGHT NOW.

>> BUT YOU WANTED TO SHOW US SOMETHING UP HERE.

>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN'T BURN WITH CONVENTIONAL EQUIPMENT UNDERWATER LIKE WE CAN TOPSIDE, OXYACETYLENE, SO WE HAD TO USE A EXOTHERMIC ROD THAT BURNS AT 10,000 DEGREES AT THE TIP SO THAT WE CAN BURN THICK STEEL UNDERWATER.

FOR EXAMPLE-- >> OH!

OH MY GOD!

BOY, YOU ARE JUST CUTTING RIGHT THROUGH A VERY THICK PIECE OF STEEL.

NOW, WHAT WOULD THAT--WHAT WOULD BE THE EQUIVALENT-- WHAT WOULD BE UNDERWATER THAT YOU WOULD BE DOING THAT TO?

>> WELL, WE MIGHT BE CUTTING OFF A MEMBER OFF OF AN OIL PLATFORM, CUTTING A PIPELINE, CUTTING THE HULL OF A SHIP TO GET INTO SALVAGE IT OR TO REMOVE IT.

EVERYTHING WE WORK ON IN THE WATER OFFSHORE IS ALL THICK STEEL, ONE INCH, TWO INCH THICK.

>> I GOT YOU.

REAL THICK STUFF.

>> VERY THICK STUFF.

AND WE'VE GOT A LIMITED BOTTOM TIME.

WE'VE GOT SO MANY MINUTES AT DEPTH TO DO OUR JOB, SO WE CAN'T HAVE--WE CAN'T WASTE TIME WAITING FOR THE STEEL TO HEAT UP.

STEEL WILL MELT AT 3,000 DEGREES.

THIS BURNS AT 10,000 DEGREES.

>> YEAH.

>> SO BOOM, WE MAKE IT HOT, WE GO RIGHT TO WORK.

WE'RE BURNING DAYLIGHT OTHERWISE.

>> NOW, CAN WE GO OVER HERE AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S ACTUALLY--THIS IS THE--BOY, THEY'RE ALL SUITING UP HERE.

YOU'RE GETTING READY TO GO DOWN.

>> YES, SIR.

>> NOW, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE BEEN DOWN BEFORE?

>> A LOT.

I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY TIMES.

>> HOW MANY TIMES ARE YOU REQUIRED TO GO DOWN DURING THE--DURING YOUR TRAINING?

>> DURING THE COURSE OF A DAY, WE WORK ON A ROTATION BASIS.

WE JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GOING DOWN, WE'RE PRACTICING, AND WE'RE ALSO MAKING SURE OUR TEAMMATES GET A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE TOO.

>> NOW, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO?

>> NOT ALWAYS, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD CAREER CHANGE FOR ME.

IT'S SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT AND DEFINITELY OFFERS A LOT OF EXCITEMENT.

>> IS THERE MONEY IN IT?

>> I'LL FIND OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN HERE?

>> WELL, WE'RE GOING TO PUT THIS DIVER IN THE WATER, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO LOWER THE TORCH YOU JUST SAW AND SOME RODS DOWN IN THE WATER, AND HE'S GOING TO START BURNING.

WE'VE GOT STEEL ALREADY IN THE WATER.

>> BURNING, NOT WELDING.

>> NOT--NOT WELDING.

NO.

THE OTHER PEOPLE OVER HERE IN THE BARS IN THIS STATION ARE WELDING.

WE'RE GONG TO BURN ON THIS STATION.

>> WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN HERE ON THE ACTUAL BARGE ITSELF?

>> WELL, WE'VE GOT GUYS GOING BACK IN THE WATER ON STATION 8 OVER THERE.

I HAVE A GUY RIGHT HERE ON STATION 4.

HE'S WELDING UNDERWATER.

THAT'S HIS TENDER.

>> SO THERE'S STUDENTS DOWN IN THE WATER ALL AROUND HERE NOW.

>> YES, YES.

YEAH, WE START A 5:30 IN THE MORNING.

WE GO TO 5:00 AT NIGHT, AND WE JUST CONSTANTLY CYCLE PEOPLE.

I'VE GOT FIVE WELDING STATIONS HERE AND THREE BURNING STATIONS UP HERE.

>> NOW, LOOK AT THIS, LUIS.

WHEN YOU LOOK OUT HERE, THESE ARE ALL THE OTHER CLASSROOMS ALL OUT HERE DOING OTHER SKILLS.

>> WELL, WE'RE-- THEY'RE IN HEMI-DOME.

YOU SEE A GUY ON LADDER, AND YOU GOT ANOTHER MAN DOWN THERE, ACTUALLY IT'S A WOMAN.

WE'RE DOING SOME REPAIR WORK, SOME MODIFICATIONS TO THE HEMI-DOME.

THOSE ARE MY STUDENTS AS WELL.

SO IF THEY'RE NOT PRACTICING WELDING TOPSIDE, THEY'RE DOING WELDING PROJECTS FOR THE SCHOOL.

THEY'RE WELDING IN THE WATER OR THEY'RE BURNING.

>> DO YOU REALIZE YOU HAVE ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE CLASSROOMS IN THE WORLD?

>> OH, I ENJOY IT.

I ENJOY IT.

AND I RUN A HIGH PLACEMENT RATE.

EVERYBODY HERE USUALLY GOES DOWN TO LOUISIANA FOR WORK.

>> REALLY?

>> YEAH.

AND THEY'RE EAGER TO GO.

>> YOU JUST CAME UP FROM WELDING.

>> YES, I DID.

>> WHAT'S IT LIKE DOWN THERE?

>> GREAT.

BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD.

>> NOW, ARE YOU MORE COMFORTABLE UNDERWATER OR ABOVE WATER?

>> UNDERWATER.

DEFINITELY UNDERWATER.

>> ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY?

>> ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY.

>> WERE YOU A DIVER FOR-- FOR THE FUN OF IT BEFORE YOU CAME TO SCHOOL?

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

I WAS A SCUBA DIVER FOR THE FUN OF IT.

>> SO THIS IS JUST AN EXTENSION OF WHAT YOU REALLY LIKE TO DO?

>> OH YEAH.

WORK AND DIVE, THOSE ARE THE TWO BEST THINGS IN THE WORLD.

>> YEAH.

>> I LOVE IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU'VE JUST COME UP.

HE'S GETTING READY TO GO DOWN.

HE'S GOING DOWN TO BURN.

NOW, DUKE, THERE HE GOES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

HE'S GOING DOWN THE LADDER NOW.

ONCE HE GETS IN THE WATER AND GETS SQUARED AWAY, THEN HE'S GOING TO BE GOING OVER TO HIS LEFT, AND THAT'S WHERE THE TORCH IN THE GROUND IS, AND THEN HE'S GOING TO BE STARTING TO BURN THERE.

>> SO THIS IS LITERALLY JUST AHANDS-ON WAY OF LEARNING, ACTUALLY, UNDERWATER?

>> ON A CONSTANT BASIS, THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THAT IS SOMETHING TO SEE.

NOW, WHAT IS THE REAL-LIFE APPLICATION OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> WELL, FOR EXAMPLE, ON A PLATFORM YOU GET A WHOLE BUNCH OF PIPE THAT FORMS A LATTICEWORK TO SUPPORT THE PLATFORM.

THESE PIPES VERY OFTEN GET DAMAGED.

THEY HAVE TO BE CUT OUT.

THEY CAN WEIGH ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO FIVE TONS, AND SO YOU--DIVERS HAVE TO GO DOWN AND CUT THE--THE DAMAGED PIPE UP AND A NEW PIPE IN THERE.

>> LIKE OIL PLATFORMS?

>> YES.

OFFSHORE PLATFORMS.

>> AND HOW FAR DOWN WOULD HE BE ON A JOB LIKE THIS?

A REAL JOB?

>> A REAL JOB, HE GET DOWN TO, JUST SURFACE GAS, YOU GET DOWN TO 300 FEET.

SO THAT'S WHY BECAUSE OF THE TEAMWORK ASPECT OF THIS BUSINESS, HE DOES SO MANY MINUTES.

ANOTHER GUY FOLLOWS HIM, ANOTHER GUY FOLLOWS HIM.

IT'S AROUND-THE-CLOCK CONSTANT BURNING.

>> THAT IS SOMETHING TO SEE, A TORCH UNDERNEATH THE WATER LIKE THAT.

>> NOW, THAT'S BURNING AT 10,000 DEGREES IN THE WATER JUST LIKE IT WAS TOPSIDE.

>> NOW, IS THAT HEATING UP THE WATER?

>> IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA, YES.

BUT NOT ANYWHERE AROUND IT.

JUST IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA.

>> OKAY.

THE FLAME HAS GONE OUT.

DOES THAT MEAN HE'S READY TO COME UP?

>> THAT'S--THAT'S RIGHT.

OR HE'S GOING TO CHANGE HIS ROD.

>> AND SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING GO BACK?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> NOW, THE GUYS ARE GETTING READY TO GO DOWN.

WHAT IS YOUR JOB ON THIS THING?

>> I'M A TENDER AND-- >> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> HE'S THE TENDER FOR HIM, FOR THIS DIVER.

I'M THE TENDER FOR THAT DIVER OVER THERE.

>> SO YOU'RE THE-- YOU ALL SWITCH OFF?

YOU'RE LOOKING--YOU'RE LOOKING AFTER HIM, YOUR LOOKING AFT-- YOU'RE NOT, WHERE'S THE GUY YOU'RE LOOKING AFTER?

>> HE'S SUITING UP RIGHT THERE.

>> OH, OKAY.

HE'S NOT DOWN THERE?

>> RIGHT.

>> YOU LIKE THIS?

>> IT'S PRETTY FUN.

IT'S NICE WORK.

>> YEAH.

>> THE WATER IS NICE AND COLD.

>> AL RIGHT.

THERE IS GOES, LUIS.

HE'S GOING DOWN, AND HE'S GOING TO BE WELDING JUST LIKE THE GUY WE SAW A MINUTE AGO.

>> WELL, I BELIEVE THE DIVER YOU SEEN A LITTLE WHILE AGO WAS BURNING.

>> BURNING, I'M SORRY.

HE'S GOING TO BE BURNING?

>> HE'S GOING TO BE WELDING.

>> WELDING, OKAY.

AND YOU'RE SUPERVISING TO MAKE SURE HE'S GETTING AIR?

>> YES, SIR.

>> WHAT ELSE?

>> AIR AND ELECTRICITY.

HE'LL NEED THAT TO START TO WELD.

>> AND HOW FAST COULD YOU GET HIM BACK UP IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THE AIR?

>> WE CAN GET HIM UP PRETTY FAST.

THEY ALSO-- >> HERE COMES ANOTHER ONE.

IS THIS YOUR GUY?

>> YES, IT IS.

>> OH, OKAY.

SO THEY'RE BOTH GOING OFF THE SAME SIDE THERE.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND LOOK AT THIS, LUIS.

HE'S LITERALLY-- THIS IS LITERALLY THE LIFELINE RIGHT HERE.

>> YES, IT IS.

>> WHICH I'M SURE THEY TEACH FROM DAY ONE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

>> YES, THEY DID.

THEY TAUGHT US THIS IS THE LIFELINE.

YOU ALWAYS SUPPOSED TO HAVE THIS LIFELINE IN YOUR HAND.

>> SO CAN I SHAKE HANDSGOOD-BYE, OR DO YOU NEED BOTH HANDS ON THE LIFELINE?

>> WELL, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BOTH HANDS.

>> I'LL GIVE YOU A-- WELL, I BETTER NOT.

I DON'T--MAYBE YOUR INSTRUCTOR MIGHT SEE THIS.

HE'S KEEPING BOTH HANDS ON THE LIFELINE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'VE COME JUST A-- A LITTLE BIT ACROSS FROM WHERE WE WERE WATCHING THE BURNING AND THE WELDING.

WE'VE HOOKED UP WITH TOM.

AND TOM, WE ARE GETTING READY TO HAVE AN ADVENTURE.

WELL, I'LL--I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, JUST GETTING IN THIS WETSUIT WAS AN ADVENTURE.

>> YEAH, IT SURE WAS.

>> WE DIDN'T SHOW IT ON CAMERA, BUT THE ONE I BROUGHT WITH ME-- >> WAS A LITTLE BIT SMALL ON YOU.

>> --IT WAS A LITTLE SMALL, SO WE HAD TO GET A AN EXTRA-LARGE FROM ONE OF THE STUDENTS.

WE'RE DOING SOMETHING OVER HERE.

>> YES.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A DIVE IN SOME OF OUR ADVANCED DIVING EQUIPMENT, HUELL, AND WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A QUICK LESSON AND PUT YOU IN THE WATER AND LET YOU SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO GET UNDER THERE AND--AND IN CHEAT DEATH, AS WE SAY.

>> OH, NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.HERE-- WE'VE GOT TWO TANKS RIGHT HERE.

HERE'S A TANK AND HERE'S ANOTHER TANK RIGHT HERE.

THESE ARE SMALLER TANKS.

>> RIGHT.

THEY--WE TRAIN A LOT OF GUYS AT ONE TIME, SO WE HAVE DIFFERENT EXERCISES THEY DO ALONG THE WAY.

WE'RE GOING TO JUMP OVER THE BASICS WITH YOU AND TAKE YOU RIGHT INTO THE ADVANCE SIDE, WHICH PUTS YOU IN THE BIG TANK.

>> IN THE BIG TANK?

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NOW THIS GUY, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH ME THIS MORNING?

>> HI, MY NAME HUGO, AND I'M GOING TO BE YOUR LINE TENDER AND HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING WILL GO ALL RIGHT.

>> THIS IS THE GUY THAT I WANT TO BE REAL FRIENDLY WITH, 'CAUSE YOU'RE CONTROLLING THE AIR LINE, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT.

>> SO SURE IS NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> LIKEWISE.

>> AND I'LL GUARANTEE YOU WE'REGOING TO USE ALL OF THIS INTERVIEW ON THE AIR TOO.

THIS IS ALL GOING TO WORK.

>> OKAY.

>> YOU WORK WITH ME, I'LL WORK WITH YOU.

>> OKAY.

THAT-- THAT SOUNDS GREAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

COME ON UP HERE, LUIS, AND TAKE A LOOK.

THIS IS THE--THIS IS THE BIG TANK RIGHT HERE.

>> RIGHT THIS IS A BIG TANK.

THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO DO THE ADVANCED DIVING PART OF OUR TRIP.

>> AND HERE'S ALL THE AIR EQUIPMENT DOWN HERE.

>> WHERE WE CONTROL ALL THE AIR AND--AND TELL HOW DEEPOU ARE AND-- AND HAVE OUR COMMUNICATIONS COME UP THROUGH THIS RADIO OVER HERE ALSO.

>> AND I'M JUST LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER.

LOOK AT THE--THE--THE NAUTICAL LOCKERS THERE.

THAT'S GREAT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE PUT THAT TOGETHER FOR THE STUDENTS TO HELP THEM REMEMBER THEIR DIFFERENT KNOTS AND EVERYTHING.

WHILE THEY'RE WORKING AROUND IT, THEY CAN BE GOING OVER THEM IN THEIR MIND.

>> KNOT-TYING WAS THE ONE MERIT BADGE I ALMOST DIDN'T GET IN THE BOY SCOUTS.

>> OH, REALLY?

>> I WASN'T TOO GOOD AT THAT.

>> YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE IT HERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NOW, ALEX, YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING FOR ME TO DO TOO.

>> WE HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE DISCLAIMER HERE IN CASE WE LOSE YOU.

WE DON'T WANT YOU TO SUE US.

OR YOUR HEIRS.

SO WE HAVE TO GET YOU TO FILL THAT OUT AND SIGN IT.

>> OKAY.

>> THANK YOU.

GOOD LUCK.

>> I'M NOT SURE I LIKE THE IDEA OF-- >> GOOD LUCK!

>> I DON'T LIKE THE WAY YOU SAID 'GOOD LUCK.'

>> WELL-- >> YOU HAVEN'T LOST ANYBODY YET, HAVE YOU?

>> NO, NOT YET.

NOT YET.

>> NOW, HAVE YOU BEEN DOWN IN HERE BEFORE?

>> YES, I HAVE.

>> WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE LIKE FOR ME DOWN THERE?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE KIND OF LIKE BEING IN SPACE.

>> REALLY?

>> THAT'S--THAT'S ARE REFERRING--YEAH, REFERRING TO.

>> ZERO GRAVITY KIND OF?

>> KIND OF, YEAH.

YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DO JUMPS AND FLIPS AND ALL KINDS OF NEAT STUFF.

>> WHAT ARE YOU STANDING OVER GRINNING SO BIG FOR?

>> I'M JUST WAITING TO SEE YOU GET IN.

>> NOW, TOM, WE'RE GETTING-- WE'VE ALREADY GOT THE WEIGHT BELT ON.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> AND WE'RE GETTING THE-- THIS IS THE OXYGEN.

>> THIS IS YOUR SPARE AIR, THE BAILOUT BOTTLE.

>> THE BAILOUT BOTTLE?

MAKE SURE YOU'VE GOT THAT ONE ON THERE GOOD, HUGO.

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

>> I'M FROM CALIFORNIA-- >> WHERE?

>> TEMECULA.

>> THEY DON'T HAVE ANY WATER IN TEMECULA!

>> NO, THEY DON'T.

>> DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE, STUDENTS, WHO COME FROM PLACES THAT-- >> ABOUT-- >> --THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN EXPOSED TO WATER BEFORE?

>> --PROBABLY ABOUT 50 % OF THEMCOME FROM NON-WATER AREAS LOOKING TO GET IN THE WATER.

>> SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU HAD EVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS?

>> WELL, BEFORE I--I LIVED IN CAL--IN HAWAII.

I'M A--I'VE BEEN SCUBA CERTIFIED FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS NOW.

>> OH, OKAY.

WELL, THAT--THAT-- THAT'S NOTHING FOR YOU THEN.

THIS IS SOMETHING FOR ME.

>> IT'S A NEW EXPERIENCE.

>> I'M GOING TO ENJOY THIS?

>> A LOT.

>> REALLY?

>> YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A BLAST.

>> REALLY?

>> YES.

IT'S GOING TO BE REAL FUN FOR YOU, HUELL.

>> NOW, THIS IS--THIS IS DONE FOR WHAT PURPOSE FOR THE STUDENT?

>> WELL, THIS TEACHES STUDENTS HOW TO WORK UNDERWATER, HOW TO DO CONSTRUCTION WORK AND WORK ON OIL PLATFORMS AND DO SALVAGE WORK ON VESSELS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, BRIDGE INSPECTIONS.

>> WELL, NOW, WE WERE ALREADY AT THE BURNING AND WELDING AREA.

>> RIGHT.

>> THAT'S AFTER THEY'VE LEARNED HOW TO DO THIS, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT, YES.

>> THIS IS JUST THE FIRST LESSON IN GETTING STUDENTS COMFORTABLE-- >> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> --WITH BEING IN THE WATER.

>> THIS IS WHERE WE KIND OF WATERPROOF THEM, WHERE THEY-- WHERE THEY TEACH THEM HOW TO SURVIVE IN THE ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY WANT TO WORK IN.

>> WELL, I'LL TELL YOU, HUGO IS CINCHING THAT THING UP.

>> YEAH, WELL, HE DOESN'T WANT IT TO COME OFF YOU.

>> WOW.

>> THAT SHOULD WORK.

THERE YOU GO.

NOW, I'M GOING TO REST IT ON YOUR BACK.

>> BOY, THIS IS HEAVY.

>> YEAH, ALL TOGETHER, WE'RE GOING TO PUT ABOUT 85-90 POUNDS WORTH OF GEAR ON YOU.

>> WHOA.

>> OKAY.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO-- >> NOW, HERE COMES THE BIG--THE MOMENT.

NOW, WHAT'S THIS THING?

>> THAT'S A NECK DAM, OKAY.

THIS IS WHAT I HAVE TO PUT AROUND--THIS IS GOING TO SEAL OFF THE BOTTOM OF THIS HELMET SO THAT IT DOESN'T FLOOD ON YOU WHEN YOU'RE DOWN THERE.

>> SEAL IT IN GOOD.

>> YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HELP WITH THIS-- >> PUT THIS SOCK OVER YOUR HEAD.

>> TAKE A--TAKE A BREATH AND PULL IT DOWN FROM BOTH SIDES AND PULL ALL THE WAY DOWN OVER YOUR--OVER YOUR FACE.

PULL IT HARD BEFORE YOU RUN OUT OF AIR.

PULL THAT DOWN ON HIM.

THE BACK'S GOT TO COME DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

THERE YOU GO.

>> BOY, THAT WAS-- >> THERE YOU GO.

SNUG FIT.

>> BOY, I'M CHOKING.

>> TURNING BRIGHT RED ON US.

>> I'M CHOKING.

WHAT YOU BOYS DOING TO ME DOWN HERE?

>> LET ME FIX THIS JUST A LITT BIT, MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE FOR YOU, HUELL.

>> I'M SERIOUS, I CAN'T BREATHE.

>> OKAY.

>> LUIS, GET THIS.

THIS MAY BE MY LAST INTERVIEW.

>> THAT'S WHY WE HAD YOU SIGN THAT PAPERWORK.

>> ALEK HAS GOT THE PAPERWORK.

>> OKAY.

>> IT IS TIGHT, BUT I GUESS IT'S OKAY.

>> IT WILL LOOSEN UP AS YOU GET WET.

THE WATER--AND IT HAS TO BE TIGHT.

>> OKAY.

WELL, YEAH, SURE.

ALL RIGHT.

>> OKAY.

WE'RE DOWN TO THE FINAL STEP, SO WE SHOULD PROBABLY SPEED UP AT THIS POINT AND GET HIS HELMET ON AND GET HIM IN THE WATER SO HE CAN BE COMFORTABLE, ALL RIGHT?

SO HUELL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU DUCK DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT HERE.

>> YEAH, I DID THAT BEFORE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TILT THAT DOWN SO YOU CAN SEE OUT OF IT.

PULL IT DOWN A LITTLE MORE.

[AIR FROM SUIT] >> OKAY?

>> HOW ARE WE DOING?

>> THERE YOU GO.

ALL RIGHT.

GET IT ON THE BACK?

OKAY.

WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE IT NOW ON YOU.

>> OH, GOD.

>> OKAY.

LET ME JUST PUT THIS-- >> I CAN'T HEAR YOU.

>> I NEED TO TUCK YOUR ARMS THROUGH.

LET ME HOLD THAT FOR ONE SECOND, BRING YOUR ARM BACK, THERE YOU GO.

THERE YOU ARE.

NOW, WE JUST TALK--FROM NOW ON I NEED TO TALK TO YOU ON THE RADIO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

CAN YOU HEAR ME LUIS?

ALL RIGHT.

LUIS-- >> OKAY.

OKAY, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW, HUELL?

>> YEAH, I CAN HEAR YOU.

>> OKAY, SIR.

WE'RE READY TO PUT YOU IN THE WATER WHENEVER YOU'RE READY TO GO IN.

>> OKAY, CAN YOU HOLD THAT?

HUGO, YOU GOT EVERYTHING AIRTIGHT?

ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.

OH, BOY.

>> STEP BACK GENTLY, RIGHT AT THE EDGE UP OVER THAT LITTLE LIFT.

OKAY.

GET HIS HANDS ON THE RAILS.

>> OH, LOOK AT THIS, LUIS.

>> OKAY.

STEP BACK GENTLY.

REMEMBER, THAT FIRST STEP IS A LITTLE BACK FAR BACK.

THERE YOU GO.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW YOU CAN GO DOWN THE LADDER.

>> BOY.

>> EVERYTHING IS GOING TO START GETTING LIGHTER THE MORE YOU GET IN THE WATER.

>> BOY, THIS IS--WHOA.

OH, MY GOD.

>> THERE YOU ARE, COMPLETELY UNDERWATER NOW.

>> OH, BOY.

THIS IS GREAT!

>> YEAH, WE TOLD YOU YOU'D LIKE IT.

>> I JUST KEEP GOING DOWN.

>> YOU'RE ALMOST AT THE BOTTOM.

>> OH, GOD.

THIS IS WONDERFUL.

I MEAN, I FEEL LIGHT.

>> YEAH.

EVEN THOUGH WE PUT 95 POUNDS WORTH OF WEIGHT ON YOU THERE, YOU PROBABLY ON WEIGH 5 OR 10 POUNDS OVERALL ONCE YOU'RE ON THE BOTTOM.

SO IT'S LIKE WALKING ON A CLOUD.

>> OKAY.

HERE I GO.

HEY, LUIS.

HA HA!

THIS IS GREAT.

LOOK AT THIS.

WHOA!

THIS IS GREAT.

YOU REALLY DO FEEL LIKE YOU'RE LIGHTER THAN AIR.

>> IT'S PART OF THE FUN OF DEEP SEA DIVING.

>> BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

I CAN SEE WHERE YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO GET COMFORTABLE WORKING IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS.

>> IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF PRACTICE TO KEEP YOUR BALANCE AND, YOU KNOW, TO WALK COMFORTABLY ACROSS THE BOTTOM.

>> BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT DOWN HERE FOR THE FUN OF IT, THEY'RE DOWN HERE TO WORK.

>> WELL, THAT'S TRUE.

AFTER THE TRAINING COMES THE REAL SEROUS BUSINESS OF MAKING A LIVING AT IT.

>> HA HA!

ALL RIGHT, I'M COMING OVER TO LUIS.

>> OH!

HA HA!

>> HEY, HUELL, WAS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME UNDERWATER EVER?

>> THIS IS MY FIRST TIME WITH A HARD HAT LIKE THIS.

>> WELL, WE'D LIKE TO COMPLIMENT YOU, SIR.

YOU'RE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB DOWN THERE.

>> GREAT.

SO YOU HAVE QUITE A BIT OF FLEXIBILITY, DON'T YOU?

>> YES, YOU DO.

YOU CAN WORK UPSIDE DOWN IN THAT OUTFIT, LAY ON YOUR STOMACH OR ON YOUR BACK OR IN ALMOST ANY POSITION YOU CAN THINK OF.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I WANT TO COME UP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL BRING YOU UP.

>> DO I HAVE TO DO ANYTHING WHEN I COME UP?

>> I KNOW YOU HAVEN'T BEEN DEEP ENOUGH OR LONG ENOUGH TO DECOMPRESS, SO YOU CAN JUST COME STRAIGHT ON OUT.

>> READY, LUIS?

ALL RIGHT, HUELL, IT'S TIME TO COME UP.

>> OH, WOW.

I KNOW THE FIRST THING I WANT-- NOW, YOU FEEL HEAVY.

WOW, YOU FEEL ALL THIS WEIGHT ALL OF A SUDDEN.

ALL OF SUDDEN YOU GET REAL HEAVY.

THAT WAS GREAT!

NOW, YOU'RE GETTING HOOKED UP TO DO WHAT?

>> I'M GOING TO GO IN AND SHOW YOU HOW TO DITCH YOUR HAT AND PUT IT BACK ON.

>> YOU MEAN TAKE OFF YOUR HELMET WHILE YOU'RE UNDERWATER?

>> YES, SIR.

AND FLOOD IT, COUNT TO FIVE AND PUT IT BACK ON AND CLEAR IT WHERE I CAN START BREATHING AGAIN.

>> THIS IS PART OF THEIR SURV--THIS IS PART OF THEIR SURVIVAL TRAINING, SO YOU HAD A LOT OF FUN.

YOUR HAT STAYED ON YOUR HEAD.

BUT IN AN EMERGENCY, IF SOMETHING WENT REALLY BAD AND THAT HAT CAME OFF, THESE YOUNG MEN HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO HOLD THEIR BREATH LONG ENOUGH AND EXACTLY WHAT TO DO TO MAKE SPLIT-SECOND DECISIONS TO RECOVER FROM THAT AND SURVIVE IT.

>> HOW DO YOU TRAIN FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

THAT'S, I MEAN, JUST TRAINING FOR IT COULD GET YOU IN TROUBLE.

>> DON'T THINK ABOUT IT.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, BECAUSE YOU'RE--YOU'RE SENDING PEOPLE DOWN IN THE TANK, HAVING THEM PURPOSELY TAKE OFF THEIR HELMET?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

BUT THERE'S A WHOLE SERIES OF STEPS WE DO BEFORE WE GET TO THAT.

THAT'S A VERY ADVANCED MANEUVER TO DO.

>> YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE CONFIDENCE.

>> THEY BUILD A LOT OF CONFIDENCE UP--ALONG THE WAY BEFORE THEY GET TO THAT STAGE.

>> THAT'S SO FAR DOWN THE LINE FOR ME THAT IT'S NOT EVEN IN THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY.

>> THAT'S WHY WE'VE BROUGHT THIS YOUNG MAN IN.

HE'S A REAL GOOD AT IT.

>> TO SHOW US HOW THEY REALLY DO IT.

>> SHOW PEOPLE HOW THEY CAN SURVIVE AND HOW--HOW TO BE COOL UNDERWATER.

>> YOUR NAME AGAIN?

>> MY NAME IS MICHAEL PRICE.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU, SIR.WE'RE GOING TO ENJOY WATCHING YOU DO SOME REAL DIVING.

>> HE'S GOING TO START TAKING HIS HELMET OFF UNDERWATER HERE.

THIS IS SO THEY--IF THEY EVER LOSE IT, THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO.

>> I CAN'T BELIEVE--IT HURTS ME JUST TO WATCH THIS.

HE'S PURPOSELY TAKING OFF-- >> YEP.

>> WOULD A SITUATION LIKE THAT ACTUALLY HAPPEN TO A DIVER?

>> WELL, THE LOSING OF THE HAT COULD HAPPEN, YEAH.

HE WOULDN'T PURPOSELY EVER TAKE HIS HAT OFF.

>> WELL, NO.

OF COURSE.

>> I MEAN, YEAH.

IT COULD HAPPEN, SO WE TRAIN THEM FOR ALL THE INEVITABILITIES OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN WHEN THEY'RE UNDERWATER.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE.

>> AND NOW IT'S FULLY FLOODED, SO THERE'S WATER EVERYWHERE.

>> SO HE'S GOT TO EXPEL THE WATER FROM THE HELMET?

>> RIGHT.

WHICH IS DONE ALREADY.

IT'S THAT QUICK.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

LOOK AT THAT.

HE'S GOT IT BACK ON, HE NEVER PANICKED?

>> NO.

HE DOES IT QUITE A FEW TIMES.

EVERY ONE OF THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN THAT COMES THROUGH THIS SCHOOL LEARN HOW TO DO THIS.

THEY CAN'T GO INTO THE HARBOR UNTIL THEY CAN PERFECT THIS TECHNIQUE.

>> OF TAKING IT OFF-- >> TAKING IT OFF.

>> --COUNTING TO FIVE AND PUTTING IT BACK ON.

>> AND PUTTING IT BACK ON AND THEY HAVE TO DO THAT THREE TIMES IN A 10-MINUTE PERIOD OF TIME TO PASS THIS PORTION OF THE COURSE.

SO TECHNICALLY, HE COULD DO THIS THREE TIMES IN A ROW.

>> BOY, HE'S GOT MY RESPECT.

>> THERE HE IS.

HE'S HAT BACK UP, HE'S FULLY OPERATIONAL AGAIN.

GO BACK TO WORK OR HEAD BACK TO SURFACE AND CHEW ON SOMEBODY FOR PUTTING HIM IN THAT SITUATION IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> OKAY, WE HAVE LEFT THE OPEN TANKS.

I'M DRY.

THE WET--THE WETSUIT IS HANGING UP SOMEWHERE, AND WE'RE MOVING BACK ACROSS THE STREET HERE.

NOW, THAT'S WHERE WE WERE THIS MORNING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S THE WELD TEST.

>> AND THERE ARE STUDENTS GOING FULL BLAST ALL DAY, I GUESS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THE WHOLE MORNING--THEY START AT 5:00 A.M.

THIS MORNING.

>> NOW, WHERE DO THESE STUDENTS COME FROM?

>> LITERALLY ALL OVER THE WORLD.WE HAVE ALMOST EVERY STATE REPRESENTED.

STUDENTS FROM JAPAN-- >> WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE, HERE'S OUR BURNER.

LISTEN, AFTER WE LEFT YOU THIS MORNING, THEY WERE TELLING ME YOUR HISTORY.

YOU WERE A--A NAVY SEAL.

>> NO, I JUST DID THINGS A LONG TIME AGO, WHICH HAS NO RELATIVE BEARING TO WHAT I'M DOING NOW.

>> WELL, NOW, WAIT-- >> THAT'S A LONG TIME AGO.

>> THE WAY--THE WAY I HEARD IT 'CAUSE YOU WERE TELLING ME THAT THE STUDENTS LOVE TO HEAR HIS STORIES AND-- >> I DON'T TELL STORIES.

>> TELLS EXPERIENCES.

>> WELL, NOT ABOUT THAT.

>> UH-HUH.

BUT THE WHOLE LORE OF THE SEA AND ALL OF THAT SORT OF THING.

>> A STORY FROM TIME TO TIME.

I'VE WORKED ALL OVER THE WORLD.

WHAT I USE IS EXPERIENCE THAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON A JOB TO RE-ENFORCE WHAT I'M TRYING TO TRAIN THESE GUYS TO DO.

>> AND DO YOU THINK THERE'S THE SAME EXCITEMENT WITH THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AS YOU HAD WHEN YOU WERE FIRST STARTING OUT?

I MEAN, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT REGARDLESS OF-- IT JUST KIND OF GOES FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION, DOESN'T IT?

>> YES, IT DOES.

NOT AS MANY AS I WOULD LIKE TO THINK WHEN I STARTED OUT, BUT AS IT IS NOW AND WHEN YOU GET FOUR OR FIVE GUYS THAT HAVE REALLY GOT THE FIRE IN THE BELLY, IT'S AS STRONG AS IT WAS BEFORE.

>> CAN YOU TELL-- >> EXCEPT THEY'RE SMARTER.

THERE ARE A LOT SMARTER-- THEY'RE SMARTER THAN I AM, AND THEY WERE SMARTER THAN I EVER WAS WHEN I STARTED OUT.

I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS 40 YEARS.

>> AND CAN YOU TELL RIGHT OFF ABOUT WHICH ONES-- >> OH, HELL YES.

>> REALLY?

>> OH, YES.

YOU LOOK THEM IN THEIR EYES, YOU SMELL THEM, AND IF THEY HAVE THE PASSION, IF THEY HAVE THE DESIRE, OH, YEAH, YOU CAN TELL.

AND THEY'RE GENERALLY THE ONES THAT--THAT HANG IN THERE THAT MAKE IT.

>> YEAH.

WELL, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WHERE ARE YOU HEADED?

>> I GOT TO GO BACK OVER TO THE WELDING PIER.

YOU WANTED TO SEE DEIDRE?

>> OH, YEAH.

>> SHE'S OVER THERE WELDING OVER THERE IN THE HEMI-DOME.

>> LET'S GO OVER HERE.

HOWDY.

YOU LOOK LIKE A CONSTRUCTION WORKER.

>> YEAH, A LITTLE BIT.

>> WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING TO GET--GET ALL-- ALL SO DIRTY TODAY?

>> JUST WORKING.

>> REALLY?

>> YEAH.

>> NOT UNDERWATER?

>> NO, TOPSIDE OVER ON THE HEMI-DOME.

>> AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING TOPSIDE?

>> JUST BUILDING SOME-- FABRICATING SOME NEW STUFF FOR THE SCHOOL.

>> SO THEY WORK UNDER AND ABOVE THE WATER.

>> THE WELDTECHS DO.

THEY'RE A SPECIAL GROUP OF WORKERS, AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE THEY ARE.

THEY JUST WORK HARD.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THEY DO A HECK OF A JOB.

>> ARE THEY STUDENTS?

>> YEAH.

THEY'RE--THEY'RE STUDENTS.

THEY'RE STILL IN THEIR ADVANCED COURSES RIGHT NOW.

SO WHETHER WE NEED THEM IN THE WATER, THEY GO TO THE WATER.

IF WE NEED THEM ABOVE THE WATER, THEY DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY.

>> YOUR NAME IS?

>> JOEL.

>> FROM?

>> CARLTON, MONTANA.

>> THERE'S NO WATER IN MONTANA!

>> YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF WATER.

>> WELL, NOT--NOT LIKE THIS?

>> NO, NOT LIKE THIS.

>> HAD YOU EVER BEEN TO THE OCEAN OR BEEN IN THE OCEAN BEFORE YOU-- >> OH YEAH, I SCUBA DIVED FOR 10 YEARS.

>> SO YOU GOT IN YOUR BLOOD TOO.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> OKAY.

BEFORE WE LEFT, YOU FELLOWS WANTED TO SHOW ME SOMETHING UP ON THE SIDE OF DUKE'S BUILDING OVER THERE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I WANTED TO SHOW YOU THAT SIGN UP THERE BECAUSE DUKE HAS PROBABLY FORGOTTEN MORE ABOUT DIVING THAN MOST OF US KNOW ABOUT IT, AND WE CALL THAT A DUKEISM UP THERE.

DON'T TALK ABOUT IT, JUST DO IT.

DON'T TELL ME, SHOW ME.

THAT SUMS HIM UP.

>> STUDENTS HAVE GOT TO LOVE A GUY LIKE THAT.

>> OH, THEY DO.

THEY RESPECT HIM, AND HE TREATS EVERY STUDENT AS A HUMAN BEING, CALLS THEM SIR, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NOTICED THAT.

EVERYTHING IS "MISTER" OR "SIR."

HE'S--HE'S JUST A CLASS PERSON.

THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO PUT IT.

>> I WAS JUST SO SURPRISED WHEN I WAS DOING THE INTERVIEW WITH HIM THAT HE WAS SO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF-- >> SO QUIET ABOUT IT-- ABOUT HIMSELF PERSONALLY.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

HE DOESN'T BRAG ABOUT HIMSELF AT ALL.

HE DOESN'T SAY MUCH ABOUT HIMSELF.

HE'D RATHER--HE'S MORE INTERESTED IN MAKING OTHER PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THEMSELVES THAN THEY ARE ABOUT HIM.

>> SO WE'RE LUCKY THAT WE GOT HIM ON CAMERA AT ALL.

>> WELL, YOU'RE THE GROUP TO EVER GET HIM ON CAMERA.

WE'RE QUITE--WE'RE QUITE SURPRISED YOU EVEN GOT HIM TO TALK TO EVEN FOR A MINUTE THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE SCORED WITH DUKE TODAY!

>> HE DID, HE TALKED ABOUT WELDING AND BURNING, AND THAT'S HIS EXPERTISE AND AS YOU, OBVIOUSLY, OBSERVED, HE REALLY KNOWS HIS BUSINESS.

AND HIS STUDENTS ARE WELL-DISCIPLINED.

THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO AND THEY DO IT, AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

YOU HAVE GOOD INSTRUCTORS THAT'S--THAT'S WHAT EDUCATION IS ALL ABOUT.

>> WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE?

>> CUTTNG A PIECE OF ANGLE IRON.

>> WELL, COME UP HERE AND TALK TO US FOR A MINUTE.

NOW, HAVE YOU--WE SAW SOMEBODY DOING SOME BURNING OVER THERE THIS MORNING.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT YOU'RE WELDING OUT HERE, RIGHT?

>> WE'LL WELDING UP ON THE HEMI-DOME.

>> OKAY.

NOW, HOW FAR ALONG I N THE--IN THE YEAR'S WORTH OF CLASSES ARE YOU?

>> I'VE GRADUATED ALREADY, AND I'M STAYING FOR AN ADDITIONAL 20 WEEKS, SO I'M IN SEVENTH WEEK OF THAT.

>> SO WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR FIRST JOB IS GOING TO BE?

>> A--A TENDER.

A HOSE CHOKER OUT IN THE GULF.

>> OUT IN THE GULF?

>> OUT IN HE GULF.

>> NOW, WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

WHAT'S YOUR STORY?

WHAT'S YOUR BACKGROUND?

>> I'M ORIGINALLY FROM JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, BORN AND RAISED, AND JOINED THE MILITARY IN '83, AND I WAS IN FOR 15 YEARS.

>> WHICH BRANCH?

>> I WAS IN THE ARMY.

SO-- >> FOR 15 YEARS?

>> FOR 15 YEARS IN AIR DEFENSE.

>> THIS IS A LONG WAY FROM AIR DEFENSE.

>> YEAH.

IT USED TO BE IF IT FLIES, IT DIES, NOW IT'S, LIKE, DON'T DROWN.

SO I JUST--I WANTED SOMETHING TO KEEP IT GOING.

I DIDN'T WANT JUST SIT BACK AND DO, LIKE, A GOVERNMENT JOB, KICK MY FEET UP OR NOTHING LIKE THAT.

SO I DECIDED I WANTED TO HAVE SOME FUN.

>> AND HOW HARD IS IT DOING ALL OF THIS STUFF?

>> IT'S A LOT HARDER THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE.

>> YEAH.

>> IT REALLY IS.

IT TAKES A--IT TAKES A LOT OF FORTITUDE.

>> DO THE--DO THE STUDENTS RE-ENFORCE EACH OTHER, THOUGH?

DO THEY--DO THEY-- >> THEY TRY TO.

SOMETIMES.

YEAH, WE TRY TO HELP EACH OTHER.

JOE MICHAELS IS, LIKE, ONE OF THE BETTER WELDERS AND HE TEACHES EVERYBODY.

HE'S THE TUTOR AT NIGHT, SO HE TEACHES EVERYBODY.

>> YEAH.

>> SO, IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

>> FOR YOUR INFORMATION, SHE ALSO DID TUTORING FOR OUR STUDENTS AND DID A MARVELOUS JOB.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, ONCE YOU GRADUATE, YOU CAN'T DO THAT ANY LONGER.

BUT SHE WAS VERY HELPFUL FOR OUR STUDENTS THAT NEEDED ASSISTANCE.

>> WELL, NOW, YOU'RE STICKING AROUND FOR GRADUATE WORK.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ONE OF THESE PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS, ARE YOU, THAT JUST STICKS AROUND FOREVER?

>> OH, NO.

APRIL 21ST, I'M DONE.

I AM DONE.

I'LL BE IN LOUISIANA.

>> HEADING FOR THE GULF.

>> HEADING FOR THE GULF.

>> WORKING ON AN OIL PLATFORM?

>> PROBABLY.

I HOPE SO.

I HOPE SO.

>> THAT'S TOUGH WORK.

>> I KNOW, BUT I THINK I'M READY FOR IT NOW.

>> AND THINK OF ALL THAT MONEY YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE.

>> OH, YEAH.

OKAY.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S A-- ACTUALLY, I GUESS THAT'S EVERYBODY'S PRIMARY GOAL IS TO GO OUT THERE AND MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, I GUESS.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE OR ONE OF MY GOALS IS TO--TO PAY OFF ALL MY BILLS, YOU KNOW.

IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS, I WANT EVERYTHING PAID FOR.

>> AND ENJOY YOURSELF AT THE SAME TIME.

>> OH, YEAH.

YOU KNOW, 45, 60 DAYS OUT ON AN OIL PLATFORM THAT, YEAH, THAT'S FUN.

>> NOW, TOM, WHERE ARE WE NOW?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW WERE STANDING IN FRONT OF THE ADVANCED DIVE TEAM IN HE HARBOR HERE.

THESE ARE THE SENIORS IN THE HARBOR.

THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH ALL THE OTHER PROGRAMS, AND NOW THEY'RE PUTTING THEIR COMBINED KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY LEARNED FROM DAY ONE TOGETHER, AND THEY'RE BUILDING A VERY MASSIVE--IT'S 5 1/2 TON OBJECT DOWN HERE.

>> THEY'RE BUILDING--THEY'RE-- WELL, THEY'RE UNDER-- UNDER THERE RIGHT NOW.

>> UNDER THERE RIGHT NOW.

THERE ABOUT 48 FEET DOWN THERE.

>> I SEE.

LOOK OVER THERE, LUIS, THERE'S SOME BUBBLES COMING UP.

HOW DEEP ARE THEY?

>> THEY'RE ABOUT 48 FEET RIGHT NOW.

>> AND THEY'RE BUILDING SOMETHING.

>> THEY'RE BUILDING A--A-- SOMETHING THAT'S GOT 18 PARTS TO IT.

SOME OF THEM WEIGH 1,200 POUNDS APIECE, AND THEY'RE MOVING THESE OBJECTS ONE MAN AT A TIME INTO PLACE AND BUILDING THEM.

>> SO THIS ABOUT AS ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AS YOU CAN GET RIGHT HERE.

I MEAN, THESE--THESE GUYS AND THESE--THESE WOMEN-- >> THIS IS REAL-- >> --ARE DOWN THERE DOING IT.

>> THIS IS AS REAL AS WE CAN MAKE IT.

THEY'RE--THEY'RE A SMALL COMPANY THAT WE HIRED TO DO A JOB FOR US ON THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN, AND WE SPREAD THE PARTS OUT EVERYWHERE.

THEY HAD TO GO OUT AND FIND THEM AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT THEM TOGETHER AND AS A TEAM.

THERE'S TWO TEAMS DOING THIS, A MONDAY/WEDNESDAY GROUP AND A TUESDAY/THURSDAY, AND THEY SHARE IN A COMMON GRADE, SO THEY BOTH HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.

EACH TEAM HAS TO TRANSFER INFORMATION AND PROGRESS THE PROJECT ALONG TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> AND LOOKING OVER HERE, HERE'S ONE OF THESE HUGE, BIG SHIPS.

NOW, ARE THESE THE KIND OF SHIPS THAT YOUR STUDENTS MIGHT BE WELDING OR--OR BURNING-- >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> --OR DOING ANYTHING UNDER THE WATER LINE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEY'LL BE CLEANING THE HULLS ON THESE THINGS.

THEY'LL BE WORKING OUT, AND THEY'LL BE DOING UNDERWATER INSPECTIONS ON THEM.

THEY'LL BE WELDING ON THE RUDDER SHAFTS AND THAT SORT OF THING, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO OUT THERE.

>> SO WHEN THEY'RE HERE IN SCHOOL, THEY CAN LOOK ACROSS THE BAY AND SEE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING IN REAL LIFE.

>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

>> OH, BOY.

WE'VE GOT A LOT GOING ON OVER HERE.

>> YEAH.

THIS IS THE-- RIGHT AFTER THEY CAME OUT OF THOSE OPEN TANKS WHERE YOU MADE YOUR DIVE, THESE ALL--ALL YOUNG MEN AND OUT LEARNING SOME MORE THINGS ABOUT DIVING.

SOME--SOME EXTRA ABILITIES TO NAVIGATE UNDERWATER, TO PUT THINGS TOGETHER UNDERWATER.

>> AND THEY'RE DOING IN THE REAL WATER?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

NOW WE CAN'T SEE THEM ANYMORE.

THEY'RE ON THEIR OWN DOWN THERE, AND THEY'RE--THEY'RE PRACTICING.

>> AND WHO IS THIS GUY?

HE LOOKS LIKE THE POSTER BOY FOR THE SEALS OR FOR SOMETHING?

WHAT'S YOUR--WHAT'S YOUR STORY HERE?

>> WELL, MY NAME IS SCOTT, AND MY MAIN JOB HERE, BESIDES BEING AN INSTRUCTOR AND TEACHING WITH THE ADVANCED MEDTECH PROGRAM, IS I'M GOING TO BE UNDERWATER WITH YOU FILMING YOU.

SO IF ANYTHING HAPPENS AND YOU NEED HELP, I'M THE FIRST ONE THERE TO FILM IT.

>> YEAH.

SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET US AS WE SINK TO THE BOTTOM.

>> AT LEAST ON FILM.

>> WE HADN'T REALLY REVEALED YET, BUT WE'RE GETTING READY TO SOMETHING VERY EXCITING RIGHT ON THE OTHER SIDE.

>> THAT'S--THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO GET IN ABOUT A MILLION DOLLAR DIVING SYSTEM HERE AND MAKE A DIVE INTO THE HARBOR IN IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S--WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO COME WITH US AND LUIS, LOOK OVER HERE.

THIS IS VERY INTERESTING.

BOY, THEY ARE--EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK, YOU SEEúPEOPLE GOING OVER THERE--GOING OVER THE SIDE.

>> NOW, THIS IS SAFETY DIVERS.

THIS GENTLEMEN STAYS UP HERE ALL THE TIME, AND IF AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS, HIS FIRST JOB IS TO GET IN THE WATER AND RESCUE THE INJURED PARTY.

>> SO THIS GUY IS JUST GOING TO SIT THERE-- >> HE'S GOING TO SIT THERE FOR-- >> --AND WATCH THESE GUYS THAT ARE ALREADY UNDER--UNDERWATER TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS OKAY.

>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

THAT'S HIS ONLY JOB.

>> THIS IS A VERY SAFETY- CONSCIOUS PROFESSION BECAUSE, I GUESS, IN ANY ONE MOMENT, YOUR LIFE COULD BE OVER.

>> WELL, THAT'S RIGHT.

I'M FOND OF TELLING MY STUDENTS, "IF YOU CAN'T SUCK AIR OUT OF WATER, YOU BETTER HAVE YOUR STUFF TOGETHER WHEN YOU GET IN THERE."

>> YEAH.

NOW, TOM, THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING PARTS OF OUR WHOLE DAY HERE AT THE COLLEGE.

WE'RE STANDING IN FRONT OF SOMETHING CALLED A-- >> DIVING BELL, HUELL.

>> --A DIVING BELL-- >> YES.

>> --AND OVER HERE, LUIS, LOOK AT THIS.

THIS IS CALLED A-- >> THIS IS CALLED A SATURATION SYSTEM, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IN DIVING IS GO WAY OUT IN THE OCEAN AND DIVE DEEP.

I'M TALKING 1,000-1,500 FEET.

AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, THE DIVERS ARE GOING TO--THIS BELL IS GOING TO TRANSPORT THOSE DIVERS FROM THE SURFACE DOWN TO 1,500 FEET, AND WHEN THEY'RE THROUGH WITH THEIR JOB FOR THE DAY, THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK UP,AND WE'RE GOING TO HOOK UP TO THIS--THIS SYSTEM HERE WHERE THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO LIVE.

THEY'RE GOING TO LIVE INSIDE OF THERE AND SLEEP INSIDE OF THERE.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO JUST KEEP ROTATING AROUND IN A SHIP-TYPE FASHION UNTIL THAT JOB IS DONE.

AND IT MAY BE 30, 40, 50 DAYS BEFORE THE JOB GETS DONE.

>> THEY LITERALLY HAVE TO LIVE INSIDE THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> NOW, WHAT IS THIS ON THE--ON THE DECK OF A SHIP OUT AT SEA?

>> RIGHT.

ALL OF THIS WILL STAY ON THE DECK EXCEPT FOR THE BELL, WHICH IS A VERY EXOTIC ELEVATOR.

IT'S JUST GOING TO-- >> AND THAT'S WHAT'S LOWERED DOWN.

>> THAT'S WHAT LOWERED DOWN, AND THEY GO OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF IT, AND THEY WORK ONE MAN AT A TIME.

AND THEN WHEN THE TWO GUYS HAVEDONE THEIR SHIFTS DOWN THERE, MAYBE FOUR HOURS A PIECE, THE BELL WILL COME BACK UP, AND THEY'LL GO INTO THE SYSTEM AND TWO MORE GUYS WILL COME INTO THE BELL AND GO BACK AND DO THIS 24 HOURS A DAY.

>> WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY CAME UP AND GOT OUT OF THE BELL, LIKE THAT, AND DIDN'T GO INTO THE CHAMBER.

>> OKAY.

WELL, WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS EXPLOSIVE DECOMPRESSION, AND THEY WOULD ALL LOOK LIKE SOME SORT OF JAM WHEN THEY GOT DONE WITH THAT-- >> REALLY.

>> --BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO STAY UNDER PRESSURE.

IT TAKES 15 DAYS JUST TO LET THE PRESSURE OFF SLOWLY SO THEY CAN COME OUT AND WALK AROUND ON THE DECK LIKE YOU AND ME AGAIN.

>> SO THEY HAVE TO STAY IN THERE 15 DAYS WHEN THEY GET THROUGH WITH THE JOB.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AFTER THE JOB'S DONE, IT'S ANOTHER 15 DAYS BEFORE THEY CAN COME BACK OUT ON DECK AND--AND GO HOME.

>> NOW, WE'RE GOING TO GO DOWN IN THIS BELL TODAY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO STAYIN THIS BELL--IN THIS COMPRESSION CHAMBER ANY 15 DAYS?

>> THEY DIDN'T TELL YOU THAT?

>> LUIS AND I GOT PLACES TO GO.

>> THEY DIDN'T TELL YOU THAT PART?

>> NO, WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO-- >> WE'RE JUST GOING MAKE A-- >> THIS IS GOING TO LIFT RIGHT OVER HERE AND GO DOWN-- >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> --INTO THE WATER.

HOW FAR DOWN?

>> WELL, WE'RE GOING TO GO DOWN ABOUT 20, 25 FEET INTO THE HARBOR, OKAY.

>> AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK UP.

>> AND THEN WE'RE GONG TO BRING YOU BACK UP AND LET YOU BACK OUT-- >> WE'RE GOING TO GO HOME.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S WALK OVER HERE.

HI.

COME OVER HERE AND TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT, I'M HUELL HOWSER.

>> I'M BUTCH REESE.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> NOW, YOU'RE THE GUY THAT'S GOING TAKE ME DOWN IN THE BELL, RIGHT?

>> I SURE AM.

I'M YOUR DRIVER AND YOUR PILOT.

>> AND WHAT'S THAT EXPERIENCE GOING TO BE LIKE FOR US, BESIDES TIGHT.

>> EXACTLY THAT, JUST A TIGHT EXPERIENCE.

THIS IS WHAT WE GO THROUGH ON A DAILY BASIS WHEN WE'RE OUT ON THE FIELD.

TWO GUYS GO DOWN, ONE MAN WILL BE THE BELL MAN, THE OTHER MAN WILL BE THE DIVER.

THE GO OUT FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME.

THE DIVER WILL USUALLY BE OUT FOR ROUGHLY FIVE HOURS.

HE'LL COME BACK, THE BELL MAN WILL TAKE HIS PLACE AND BECOME THE DIVER, AND HE'LL GO OUT FOR ANOTHER FIVE HOURS.

SO ROUGHLY IT'S A 10-HOUR DAY FOR THESE GUYS.

>> AND THEN THE COME BACK UP AND GET HOOKED UP TO THIS AND GO IN ANOTHER COMPARTMENT AND LIVE FOR ANOTHER DAY UNTIL THEY GET READY TO GO BACK DOWN DOCK.

>> EXACTLY.

WHILE THEY--WHEN THEY COME UP, TWO OTHER GUYS WILL TAKE THEIR PLACE.

THEY'LL GO THROUGH THE BELL CHECKLIST, AND THEN THEY'LL GET COMFORTABLE.

THEY'LL GET INSIDE.

THEY'LL--TO GET TO 1,500 FEET PROBABLY WILL TAKE ROUGHLY ABOUT 45 MINUTES, THEN YOU EQUAL--EQUALIZE THE PRESSURE, BOTTOM HATCH OPENS UP, YOU GO OUT AND YOU DO YOUR JOB.

COME ON BACK HOME AND CAN'T WAIT TO GET OUT.

>> YEAH, YOU GET OUT FROM THIS AND GET INTO THIS.

>> BUT AT THE SAME TOKEN,ONE OF THE MOST USEFUL PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT THE DIVER HAS WHEN HE INSIDE IS HIS CALCULATOR, 'CAUSE YOU WAKE UP EVERY MORNING AND YOU PLUG IN THOSE NUMBERS AND YOU WATCH THEM GROW.

AT 750, WELL, A 1500 JOB YOU PROBABLY MAKE ABOUT $1,200 A DAY.

>> REALLY?

>> REALLY.

>> SO WE'RE GOING TO BE DOWN FOR HOW LONG?

HEY, THIS PBS, LET'S ADD IT UP.

WE'LL DO A PLEDGE DRIVE AROUND THIS.

>> EXTENDED SET, FOLKS.

>> NOW, BEFORE WE GO DOWN, WE WANTED TO COME IN HERE, TOM, AND LOOK.

FELLOWS, WHAT IS THIS WE'RE LOOKING AT IN HERE?

>> THIS IS THEIR LIFE SUPPORT, SATURATION SUPPORT SYSTEM.

THIS IS BASICALLY WHERE WE GIVE YOU AND WE'RE, LIKE, IN CHARGE OF MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE ALL HE PROPER AIR AND GAS MIXTURES, THE PROPER-- EVERYTHING GOING RUNNING SMOOTHLY AS FAR AS DEPTH.

WE MONITOR YOUR EXTERNAL DEPTH AS WELL AS YOUR EXTERNAL DEPTH.

WE MONITOR YOUR GAS SUPPLY, YOUR AIR SUPPLY-- >> BOY, LOOK AT ALL OF THIS.

NOW, THIS WOULD BE ON THE DECK OF A SHIP IF YOU WERE OUT AT SEA, RIGHT?

>> YES.

YES, IT WOULD BE--YES, IT WOULD.

THIS IS BASICALLY THE SAME KIND OF SYSTEM YOU WOULD HAVE OUT THERE.

>> NOW, ARE YOU A STUDENT?

>> YES, I AM.

>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THIS 'CAUSE I-- I'M GOING DOWN IN THIS BELL, AND I'M DEPENDING ON YOU JUST LIKE I DEPENDED ON HUGO EARLIER IN THE DAY WITH MY LIFELINE IN THAT TANK.

>> WELL, SIR, YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS.

>> HE'S A--IS HE A GOOD STUDENT?

>> HE'S AN EXCELLENT STUDENT.

>> AN "A" STUDENT I HOPE.

>> AN "A" STUDENT, YES, SIR.

>> AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING WHAT OVER HERE?

>> COMMUNICATIONS.

>> SO WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TALK BACK AND FORTH FROM DOWN THERE?

>> BACK AND FORTH, YES, YOU WILL.

>> SO YOU'LL BE THE FIRST ONE TO HEAR IF WE SAY BRING US UP?

>> YES.

>> AND YOU GOT TO PASS THE WORD VERY QUICKLY, RIGHT?

>> EXACTLY.

>> OKAY.

I LIKE THAT.

HE'S NO NONSENSE.

>> YEAH, HE'S GOT HIS PLAN DOWN.

>> NOW, THIS FELLOW OVER HERE, YOUR JOB?

>> LIFE SUPPORT TECHNICIAN.

I'M IN CHARGE OF MAKING SURE EVERYTHING IS RUNNING FINE AND ALL THE LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR THE BELL AND THE CHAMBER ARE RUNNING PROPERLY.

WE GOT SYSTEMS FOR THE CO2 GASES, DISTRIBUTION OF THE GASES TO THE BELL AND TO THE CHAMBER, OXYGEN, HEATING AND OXYGEN MIXTURE AND SO ON.

>> SO--LOOK AT ALL OF THIS; HELIUM, SEA MIX, AIR, OXYGEN, "D" MIX.

THERE'S A LOT GOING ON AROUND HERE.

>> YEAH.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT GASES BEING USED IN SATURATION DIVING, AND THIS WHAT YOU SEE RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS THE MAIN CONTROL BAND WHERE EVERYTHING IS BEING SUPPLIED TO THE SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT THE LIFE OF THE DIVERS.

>> WELL, I'M GLAD I MET ALL OFYOU ALL AND GOT ON YOUR GOOD SIDE RIGHT AWAY.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO DOWN.

EVERYBODY TO YOUR BATTLE STATIONS.

>> ALL RIGHT, GENTLEMEN.

LET'S DO IT.

>> WELL, THIS IS A TIGHT FIT.I'M ALREADY IN HERE.

BUD IS COMING IN.

YOU SEEM LIKE A NICE GUY.

I SURE HOPE WE GET ALONG 'CAUSE I TELL YOU WHAT, IF TWO PEOPLE DIDN'T LIKE THEMSELVES IN HERE IT COULD BE A LONG DAY.

AND IT'S ALREADY KIND OF WARM IN HERE.

LUIS IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO DOWN WITH US BECAUSE IT'S NOT ROOM BUT FOR TWO PEOPLE IN HERE.

SO LOUIE, WE'RE GOING TO SAY GOOD-BYE RIGHT NOW.

I'VE GOT MY LITTLE CAMERA IN HERE TO TAKE A FEW PICTURES AND, BOY, THIS IS GOING TO BE-- >> YAHOO.

>> BEND DOWN THERE AND SAY GOOD-BYE TO EVERYBODY, BUD.

>> SEE YOU ON THE REBOUND, FOLKS.

>> WE'RE GOING DOWN.

>> RADIO CHECK IN THE BELL, ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE.

HOW DO YOU READ THIS?

>> GOT A COPY FIVE BY FIVE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

HAVE A GOOD SWIM, BUDDY.

>> OKAY.

>> OUTER HATCH IS CLOSED.

SOON AS YOU HAVE IT INNER HATCHED YOU MAY GO AHEAD AND BLOW DOWN.

>> ROGER, READY TO BLOW DOWN.

>> ON DECK, HYDRAULICS ARE COMING ON LINE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE NOW LOCKED IN HERE, BUD, AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING FIRST OFF?

>> FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO BLOW DOWN THE BELL TO OUR DESIRED DEPTH, WHICH TODAY IS GOING TO BE ABOUT APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET.

>> HERE WE GO.

>> THIS IS OUR BLOW DOWN VALVE.

IT'S CALLED THE DEAD MAN VALVE.

THEY CALL IT THAT BECAUSE IT'S áSPRING LOADED, AND IF ONE OF THE DIVER PERHAPS PASSED OUT BECAUSE OF GETTING PURE HELIUM, HE WOULDN'T PRESSURIZE HIMSELF TO AN EX--EXTENDED DEPTH AND THIS WOULD ACTUALLY COME DOWN.

>> OH, MY GOD.

>> AND BECAUSE OF THIS SPRING LOADED, IT WOULD STOP AT THE PARTICULAR DEPTH THAT HE-- >> NOW, I FEEL SOME AIR COMING IN HERE NOW.

>> WELL, YOU HAVEN'T FELT ANYTHING YET.

IT WILL START TO HEAT UP SLIGHTLY BECAUSE AS WE COMPRESS AIR, IT DOES HEAT UP.

>> BOY LOOK AT THIS, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE WHOLE--THERE'S YOUR LITTLE SEAT OVER THERE, THERE'S NOTHING OVER HERE.

>> YOU CAN NOTICE THE DEPTH GAUGE HERE.

AS I BLOW THIS DOWN, YOU'LL NOTICE THE DEPTH GAUGE MOVE TO 10 FEET.

SO HERE WE GO.

>> OH, MY GOD.

WHOA!

MY EARS, MY EARS.

MY EARS.

>> CLOSE YOUR MOUTH, PUT YOUR FINGER ON YOUR NOSE.

>> THERE THEY GO.

>> YOU FEEL THE SQUEEZE.

>> YEAH.

OKAY.

WE'RE FINE NOW.

IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS, LET ME KNOW AND I'LL STOP THE BLOW KNOB.

>> WE'RE ALMOST THERE.

>> SOMEBODY WITH CLAUSTROPHOBIA-- >> OKAY, TOPSIDE, WE'RE AT 10 FEET.

READY TO LEAVE THE SURFACE.

>> WAIT A MINUTE, LET ME LOOK OUT HERE TO SEE WHAT WE SEE.

OH, THERE'S LUIS OUT THERE.

HEY, LUIS.

ALL RIGHT.

ARE WE MOVING YET?

>> OKAY, TOPSIDE, WE'RE READY TO GO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

STAND BY TO LAUNCH THE BELL.

>> STANDING BY TO LAUNCH THE BELL.

>> THERE'S THE LITTLE PORTHOLE RIGHT THERE.

BOY, WE ARE LOCKED IN HERE.

HOW BAD--HOW MUCH ROOM DO WE HAVE IN HERE?

>> WELL, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 5' DIAMETER AND SO ROUGHLY 6' TALL.

>> WHOA.

>> AND HERE WE GO.

AND WE'RE OFF.

>> BOY, YOU MOVE SLOW IN THIS THING TOO.

THEY DON'T MAKE ANY SUDDEN MOVES.

OH, WE ARE UNDERWATER.

NOW, BUD, HOW DEEP CAN YOU GO IN THIS THING?

>> THIS PARTICULAR BELL, WE CAN GO TO 650 FEET, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY HERE IN THE HARBOR.

WE'VE ONLY GOT 30 FEET.

>> BOY, WOULDN'T YOU GET SERIOUS CLAUSTROPHOBIA IN HERE, THOUGH?

>> SOME GUYS DO, AND THEY DON'T LAST VERY LONG WHEN THEY DO.

>> BECAUSE I CAN SEE WHERE LITERALLY YOU COULD LOSE IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I MEAN, I'M--I'M NOT LOSING IT, BUT I CAN SURE FEEL THIS KIND OF TENSENESS REALIZING THAT WE ARE--WE'RE BASICALLY TRAPPED IN HERE, AREN'T YOU?

>> YES, IN EFFECT, YES.

>> BUT WE CAN ALWAYS GET OUT.

I MEAN, THAT'S ALWAYS THE ABSOLUTE, BUT UNDER PRESSURE YOU ARE LIMITED TO THE EMERGENCY RESPONSES THAT YOU CAN DEAL WITH BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GO TO THE SURFACE ONCE YOU'RE SATURATED, FOR INSTANCE.

YOU ARE COMMITTED TO STAYING IN THE BELL UNTIL YOU ARE RESCUED, IF THAT BE THE CASE.

>> FIRST THING WE HAVE TO DO IS EQUALIZE THE BELL.

WE HAVE TO HAVE EQUAL PRESSURE FROM--IT'S--THE BELL THE BOTTOM OF THE BELL DOOR IS--BASICALLY HAS FIVE PSI BECAUSE WE'RE AT 10 FEET PRESSING AGAINST IT.

WE HAVE TO EQUALIZE THAT PRESSURE SO WE CAN OPEN UP THE DOOR.

>> WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP THE DOOR?

>> EXACTLY.

THAT'S HOW WE GET OUT.

SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING HIT THE EXHAUST, AND I'M GOING TO TRY AND EQUALIZE.

THERE'S TWO OF THESE VALVES THAT ARE OPEN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> THIS BOTTOM BELL AND THIS TOP ONE.

WE'LL BE EXHAUSTED--I USE THIS EXHAUST TO EXPEDITE MATTERS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> NOW, I'LL DO IT AND OFF WE GO.

I'M EXHAUSTING.

OKAY, WE'RE OUT-- >> OKAY.

WATER.

IT'S ALREADY.

WE'RE HERE ALREADY.

>> FANTASTIC.

>> ALL I HAVE TO DO IS FLIP THE DOOR.

>> NOW, THIS SECOND--THIS SECOND DOOR IS ALL THAT'S BETWEEN US AND THE SEA?

>> AND THE SEA.

>> THESE ARE WHAT WE CALL--THESE HANDLES WHAT WE CALL THEM DOGS.

WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS MAKE SURE THIS LINE IS FREE BECAUSE ONCE I HIT THIS DOOR HANDLE AND BLOW DOWN THE BELL, A LITTLE BIT MORE, THIS IS GOING EQUALIZE THE BELL-- >> ALL RIGHT.

>> --IT'S GOING TO BLOW THE WATER OUT, AND ONCE THE WATER LEAVES IT SHOULD BE EQUAL TO THE EXTERNAL PRESSURE ON THE BELL.

AND THE DOOR WILL FALL BY ITSELF.

>> THERE WE GO.

THERE'S OUR-- THERE'S OUR HATCH FALLING.

>> LOOK AT THIS.

THERE'S OUR FELLOW DOWN THERE WITH THE-- WITH THE CAMERA LOOKING UP HERE AT US.

ISN'T THAT AMAZING?

THAT THE WATER DOESN'T COME IN BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE THAT WE HAVE.

HEY!

>> HEY, THERE'S HELIUM IN HERE.

>> OH, IS THAT WHAT'S GOING.

OH, MY GOD.

OH, WE'RE TALKING--PEOPLE OF EARTH, PEOPLE OF EARTH.

>> WE'RE--WE'RE BREATHING HELIUM.

>> YES, WE ARE.

♪WE'RE OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD... >> DO YOU ALL ALWAYS HAVE THIS MUCH FUN?

>> OH, MORE USUALLY.

>> SO THIS IS THE WAY IT WOULD ACTUALLY WORK.

DIVERS WOULD BE COMING IN AND OUT THROUGH THIS HATCH DOWN HERE.

>> EXACTLY.

>> AND WE COULD BE AS DEEP AS 650 FEET DOWN.

>> IN THIS PARTICULAR UNIT-- >> AND BE DOING EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN THE HARBOR 10 FEET UNDER.

>> EXACTLY.

>> NO DIFFERENCE EXCEPT WE WOULD BE MAKING ABOUT $1,500 OR $1,200 MORE.

>> YEP.

>> ON AVERAGE.

>> AND IT WOULD BE A LONG DAY.

>> IT WOULD BE AN EXTENDED DAY OF I'LL SAY 10 HOURS.

SO 5 HOURS HERE AND 5 HOURS IN THE WATER.

>> SEE, I'M ALREADY SWEATING.

IT'S ALREADY HOT.

>> DO YOU WANT UP HERE?

>> NO, BLOW IT DOWN.

>> I FEEL LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING LIKE 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA.

>> AND IN FACT, IT IS.

YOU CAN GET A--AT THE MOMENT THIS IS SIMILAR TO A SUBMARINE.

>> BOY, YOU GOT THIS PLACE PACKED.

>> SOMETIMES THERE'S SOME PRETTY BIG GUYS THAT TEND TO GO IN--IN AND OUT OF THIS HATCHES, AND SOME GUYS HAVE BEEN SO BIG THAT THEY CAN'T GO IN WITH THEIR BAILOUT BOTTLES AND HAVE TO PUT THEM OUTSIDE.

>> BYE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S CLOSE IT UP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TOPSIDE, WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE UP SHOP HERE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE-- IT'S PRETTY LOW TECH, JUST REACHING DOWN THERE WITH YOUR FOOT TO GET THE STRING.

>> IT SURE IS.

AND I'M PROBABLY MAYBE-- SCOTT, COULD YOU GIVE ME A HAND AS I LIFT UP.

>> SURE, NO PROBLEM.

>> THAT'S EXCELLENT.

>> IT'S GREAT.

>> HI, BUCKWHEAT.

>> YOU CLOSE THE HATCHES AS I LIFT IT UP.

THE--THE DOGS ARE ON THE OUTSIDE.

SO I'LL LIFT UP AND YOU CLOSE THE DOGS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE CLOSING IT UP.

>> SUPER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO WE'RE LOCKED BACK IN.

OH, HERE COMES THE-- LET'S LET THIS ONE DOWN.

>> MAKE SURE THAT'S GOOD AND TIGHT.

BOY.

>> OKAY, TOPSIDE.

WE'RE LOOKING GOOD.

I'LL GO DOWN A COUPLE OF FEET, AND WE'LL BE READY TO LINK BACK.

>> AND HOW LONG WOULD PEOPLE STAY IN HERE?

>> WE USUALLY STAY IN FOR ABOUT FIVE HOURS APIECE.

WHILE ONE GUY GOES UP TO WORK, THE OTHER GUY STAYS, AND THEN HE'LL COME UP AND THEN HE'LL TRANSFER INTO THE SATURATION DOME.

>> WHAT DOES THE GUY DO THAT'S SITTING IN HERE FOR FIVE HOURS?

>> HE MAKES SURE THAT HIS CO2 LEVELS ARE LIVABLE.

HE MAKES SURE THAT THE PRESSURES FOR THE DIVER ARE FINE, THAT THE ONBOARD GAS PRESSURE ARE FINE BECAUSE IF THERE IS A-- A BAD SITUATION OR AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, THEY WOULD HAVE TO LIVE OFF THE ONBOARD GAS, WHICH ARE THE BIG BOTTLES THAT ARE STRAPPED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BELL.

>> BOY, THIS HELIUM-- >> COME BACK TOPSIDE?

READY TO LEAVE BOTTOM.

>> NOW, ARE WE GOING UP?

>> YEP.

WE'RE HITTING BOTTOM.

>> WE'RE GOING UP.

>> THERE'S ONE OF OUR DIVERS.

>> WE JUST HIT BOTTOM.

>> WE'RE OUT OF THE WATER.

>> HERE COMES MY BUDDY OUT OF HERE.

COME ON OVER HERE.

THAT WAS SOMETHING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THAT WAS SOMETHING.

I TELL YOU WHAT, IT LOOKS BIGGER OUT HERE THAN IT IS IN THERE.

I'M SWEATING--I'M SWEATING THROUGH MY SHIRT.

IT IS--IT REALLY--YOU COULD LOSE IT IN THERE VERY QUICKLY.

>> WELL, THAT'S WHY YOU GO THROUGH THE TRAINING.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE BELL, THAT'S WHY THE GUYS GET INVOLVED AT THE SCHOOL.

THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT, TO FIND OUT BEFORE YOU GO ANY FURTHER INTO YOUR CAREER WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN ACTUALLY HANDLE IT OR NOT.

>> BUT YOU SEE, SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS WHERE YOU MAKE THE BIG BUCKS, GET THE GLAMOUROUS JOBS, DO THE STUFF THAT YOU REALLY GET PAID TO DO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS WHERE--WHERE TO GO.

IT TAKES YEARS TO GET THERE.

I MEAN, IT IS DEFINITELY A JOURNEYMAN'S JOB RIGHT HERE.

IT'S NOT--THE AMATEURS DO THE-- THE YOUNG GUYS WILL DO THE SHALLOW AIR, AND AS YOUR CAREER PROGRESSES, YOU GET INTO DEEP AIR AND THEN DEEP MIX GAS AND EVENTUALLY, THE SAFEST MODE TO DIVING IS-- >> THEY'VE GOT BELLS THAT CAN GO DOWN EVEN FURTHER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

RIGHT NOW THE--BUT THE WORKING DEPTH--THE DEEPEST WORKING DEPTH RIGHT NOW IS ABOUT 1500 FEET.

THAT'S AS FAR AS THEIR BODY WILL TOLERATE, AND IT WILL PROBABLY STAY THAT WAY FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

>> COME OVER HERE A MINUTE, LUIS.

I WANT TO SHOW EVERYBODY WHAT WE WOULD NORMALLY-- COME OVER HERE A MINUTE, BUD.

THIS IS WHAT--THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD NORMALLY, WHEN WE COME OUT, THIS BELL WOULD BE ATTACHED TO THIS.

AND WE WOULD JUST CLIMB DIRECTLY FROM THE BELL.

IT WOULD HOOK ON TO THIS, AND THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD GO TO SPEND-- >> AS MUCH AS 30 DAYS.

>> THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, 30 DAYS.

>> 30 DAYS.

SURE.

NOW THE-- >> I DON'T KNOW.

>> --WOULD HAVE A BUNK, AND YOU'LL NOTICE THERE'S A SMALL LOCK ON THE SIDE.

WELL, IT'S HIDDEN BY THE MATTRESSES RIGHT NOW.

BUT THERE'S A áMEDLOCK THAT YOU CAN SEE ON THE OUTSIDE WHERE THESE GUYS WOULD BASICALLY PASS THEM THE FOOD, BOOKS, THINGS THAT WOULD HELP US LIVE, IN EFFECT.

AND THIS DONE OUT--THIS IS WHAT THE DIVE TENDERS DO ON THE OUTSIDE.

THEY--THEY MAKE SURE THEY CATER TO THE DIVERS ON THE INSIDE.

THAT'S THEIR JOB.

>> MAN, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ENOUGH MONEY TO GET ME TO LIVE LIKE THAT.

THAT--NOW THAT TAKES SOME REAL COMMITMENT TO LIVE FOR A MONTH AS CLOSED UP-- IT'S--IT'S EVEN TIGHTER THAN A SUBMARINE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BUT WHAT--LIKE I SAY, ONE OF THE SAVING GRACES IS TO BRING YOUR CALCULATOR AND COUNTING THE MONEY.

>> WATCHING THE ZEROS ADD UP.

>> I KNOW.

WELL, LOOK AT IT, THAT'S THE WHOLE SIZE OF YOUR HOUSE FOR A MONTH RIGHT THERE.

YOU'RE NEVER OUT IN THE--YOU'RE NEVER OUT IN REAL AIR, ARE YOU?

>> NO, NO.

IT'S ALL CONTROLLED AIR, THE ENTIRE ENVIRONMENT IS CONTROLLED, HUMIDITY IS CONTROLLED, EVERYTHING.

>> YOU'RE NOT TALKING FUNNY THE WHOLE TIME, ARE YOU, ON THAT HELIUM?

>> YES.

YES, YOU ARE.

FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH YOU'RE DOWN THERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE ON THAT MIXTURE OF GAS, AND THE DEEPER YOU GO, THE HIGHER THAT FREQUENCY LEVEL ALSO GOES.

SO THE GUYS DIVING 1500 FEET HAVE NO--HAVE REAL HIGH MICKEY MOUSE VOICES.

>> FOR 30 DAYS.

>> FOR 30 DAYS.

YES, SIR.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE BACK ON SHORE HERE.

THE FELLOWS WHO TOOK THE UNDERWATER CAMERAS, LOOK AT THESE GREAT CAMERAS THEY GOT.

AND WE WILL HAVE ALREADY SHOWN SOME OF THOSE MOVIES TO OUR VIEWERS AS PART OF OUR WHOLE EXPERIENCE GOING DOWN IN THE BELL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU WERE IN FOCUS.

I WANT THIS RECORDED FOREVER, ALL RIGHT?

>> NO PROBLEM.

>> OKAY.

THANK YOU, SIR.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> YOU ALL DID A GOOD JOB.

YOU KEPT THE--THE OXYGEN, THE HELIUM AND EVERYTHING MIXED JUST RIGHT.

THE AIR CONDITIONING COULD HAVEUSED A LITTLE TWEAKING.

IT'S A LITTLE HOT DOWN THERE.

MY NEW BEST FRIEND, BUD, I TELL YOU WHAT, LIKE I SAID, IT'S A-- IF YOU DIDN'T LIKE WHO YOU WERE GOING DOWN THERE WITH, YOU'D BE IN TROUBLE.

>> YOU PASSED OUT.

>> BECAUSE IT'S CLOSE DOWN THERE.

>> YOU GOT YOUR BUDDIES.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> HUELL, REAL PLEASURE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING.

>> THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT DAY, AND WE HAVE LITERALLY JUST SKIMMED THE SURFACE HERE.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS GOING ON AT THIS COLLEGE.

ALL KINDS OF CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES, OTHER THINGS IN THE MEDICAL FIELD THAT YOU WERE TELLING US ABOUT.

THERE ARE ONLY FIVE LIKE THEM LIKE THIS IN THE WHOLE UNTIED STATES.

>> CORRECT.

>> AND THIS IS, OBVIOUSLY, ONE OF THE BEST.

IT'S BEEN HERE SINCE 1946-- >> '67, 1967 >> 1967.

>> THE MAIN BUILDING IS IN 1948.

THAT'S WHEN THE BUILDING WAS BUILT.

>> OH, OKAY.

WELL, I'M--WELL I'M GLAD YOU CORRECTED ME.

>> WELL, YOU--YOU JUST CAME OFF HELIUM.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

THIS IS A REAL GEM.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT HIS PLACE.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> BUT YOU ARE PREPARING YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG WOMEN FOR A VERY HONORABLE--AND WHERE WAS THE GUY WHO KEPT TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH HIGH-PAYING PROFESSION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> SO IT'S A GREAT WAY FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO SCHOOL AND LEARN SOMETHING THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO--TO CASH IN ON IN THEIR CAREER AND ALSO HAVE A GREAT TIME WHILE THEY'RE DOING IT.

IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL DAY DOWN HERE IN WILMINGTON AT THE COLLEGE OF OCEANEERING.

CAPTIONING EQUIPMENT DONATED BY LLOYD RIGLER AND CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY RAPIDTEXT, NEWPORT BEACH, CA.

>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.