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How This Woman Started Diving in DIY Submarines

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Marine biologist Shanee Stopnitzky is on a mission to spend as much time under the ocean’s surface as possible.

To achieve her goal, she bought two used and broken submarines, and is fixing them up, making them functional again, learning as she goes.

What inspired Holly Lohuis to build her own personal submarine?

Diving into a new hobby or interest can be daunting, but for one adventurous woman, the idea of exploring undersea depths was too exciting to resist. And not just any exploration – she wanted to do it in her own DIY submarine.

The story begins with Holly Lohuis, a marine biologist who was working with filmmaker and explorer Howard Hall. Hall had recently acquired a small personal submersible, and Lohuis became obsessed with the idea of building one for herself.

Lohuis began researching and tinkering with designs, eventually settling on a spherical shape made of a lightweight material called syntactic foam. She worked with engineers to make her design a reality, and in 2002, she took her first solo dive in her homemade sub.

Since then, Lohuis has continued to perfect her design, making modifications to improve its buoyancy and maneuverability. She’s taken it on dives all over the world, from the waters off California to the Galapagos Islands.

But Lohuis’ adventures haven’t been without danger. In 2011, she was on a dive in the Florida Keys when her sub suddenly flooded, forcing her to make an emergency ascent to the surface. She was unharmed but shaken by the experience, and had to rebuild her sub from scratch.

Despite the risks, Lohuis is passionate about the freedom and excitement that come with diving in her own personal sub. “It’s a way to explore and see the world in a new way,” she says. “It’s been like my own little magic carpet ride under the sea.”

So what does it take to build and operate a DIY submarine? According to Lohuis, it requires a lot of curiosity, persistence, and willingness to learn. She cautions that it’s not a hobby for everyone, as it involves significant financial and time investments and comes with inherent risks.

But for those who are willing to take on the challenge, the rewards can be immense. “It’s like being an astronaut,” says Lohuis. “But instead of going into space, you’re going into this incredible underwater world that few people get to see.”

Lohuis’ story is a testament to the power of curiosity and determination in pursuing new passions. And who knows – maybe her story will inspire more adventurous explorers to take the plunge and explore the deep in their own DIY subs.