• Question: does scuba diving sometimes help with being a scientist?

    Asked by anon-175412 to Ella on 11 Jun 2018.
    • Photo: Ella Mercer

      Ella Mercer answered on 11 Jun 2018:

      You know, a lot of scuba divers ARE scientists. They’re called marine biologists and they work to understand the ocean and the animals in it. Even though I’m a brain scientist, not an ocean scientist, I think scuba diving does help me because it keeps me very calm which can be very important in science because a lot of the time experiments don’t work! Also, our bodies change when we go scuba diving because of the pressure from the water so I’ve learnt a lot about how our bodies work!

Comments

  • Photo: Alison

    Alison commented on :

    In my research area, being a SCUBA diver definitely helps. We dive to collect algae, sponges, and corals in places like the Caribbean sea, Antarctica, and the Atlantic ocean. We look at the chemistry these guys make and it is really fascinating to study their environment to understand why they produce toxins. Some will use them to communicate with one another, or to fight off predators in the ocean! I find field work and diving a really fun break from being in the lab, and reminds me why I wanted to have a career in marine science