Ocean Quest Online

The nonprofit Ocean Research & Conservation Association was founded by Dr. Edith Widder in 2005. Dr. Widder has a long history of exploring the deep oceans, starting as a Scientific Research Pilot at Atmospheric Diving Systems and later gaining experience with the diving suit WASP and the submersibles DEEP ROVER and DEEP WORKER. Learning more about the ocean floor helps us learn more about the effect humans are having on the environment and, more importantly, what we can change to keep the oceans a place of relaxation and refuge for people and animals alike.To that end, the ORCA Kilroy was developed, beginning in 2006 and completed in 2008, as another way to monitor the life signs of the ocean. The football-sized monitors record ocean speeds, direction, salinity, temperature, and levels of key microorganisms, 24/7. The device also has a bathyphotometer for monitoring biological elements like dinoflagellates and comb jellies.The developer of the Kilroy, Dr. Eric Thosteson, hopes that this data will help us turn around the menacing direction in which our oceans are headed. Toxic algae, paralytic shellfish poisonings, and fungal infections on seals are just a few of the more obvious signs. If we don’t end up taking a closer look at how our actions are affecting the sea, we could soon be facing a future where cruises are a thing of the past. Who wants to spend a week floating through sewage?The vast amount of Kilroy devices being deployed will serve as a sort of alarm system for dealing with the most pressing problems, and help aid researchers in coming up with solutions. The name comes from the WWII legend in which a cartoon character appeared scrawled on walls with the words, “Kilroy was here.” ORCA hopes that their own devices will soon be as recognizable as this classic icon.

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