We joined Scott Cassell and the Undersea Voyager Project during their kickoff exploration near Lake Tahoe. The team was exploring Lake Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake for one month in the SEAMobile submersible. The mission included training and orientation with the submersibles and conducting underwater surveys of the lake bottom.
I’d worked on plenty of projects with submersibles, such as the Titanic and the Bismarck shipwrecks and the hydrothermal vents, but I hadn’t dived in a freshwater lake or in a spherical submersible before.
Exploring Lake Tahoe in a Submersible
As I took off my shoes and crawled into my seat, I couldn’t help but think of my old mentor, Ralph, who had more dives to the Titanic than anyone. He always said, “May your ascents equal your descents,” and I certainly hoped that was the case here. Soon after the crew locked the canopy, effectively locking us in, we started our descent. We could see everyone on the dock waving goodbye.
The sphere allows for amazing views since you’re basically encased in a transparent bubble. It’s exciting and kind of eerie at the same time when you start your descent in a sphere. You can still see the sky above clearly. Waves splash over the top of you. It seems like you should be soaked, but you’re not. That’s how clear it is when you look out the sphere.
Stowaway
We were about two feet down when we discovered an accidental hitchhiker.
A bee had gotten locked into the submersible with us! The poor thing glued itself to top of the sphere in a desperate attempt to cling to the sunlight as we dove deeper and deeper into the lake.
They say bees navigate by using a solar compass. The bee’s ability to see polarized light lets it determine where the sun is regardless of whether it is obscured by clouds. Bees also use their internal time clock to tell how far they have flown in relation to the sun. This is how bees navigate back to their hives and then communicate where the food is to the rest of the hive in relation to the current position of the sun. I wondered how diving under 113 feet of water would affect it. Would it get agitated when the sun disappears? Or would it be docile?
Mindfulness Lessons from a Bee
Can you imagine being locked in a small submarine with an agitated bee buzzing around? For some people, this could be a pretty nerve-wracking experience, especially if you have a bee allergy or a serious aversion to getting stung. This could push a person into a full-blown panic attack.
Scott and I talked about it and decided to see what it would do.
As it grew darker, the bee began to fly around the small cabin as if completely disoriented, finally landing on my leg. I like bees; however, I don’t like them on me – mainly because I’ve been stung a couple of times. I’m not allergic, and I’m not a big fan of them landing on me in a confined area with no escape. We couldn’t exactly roll down the window and wave it out of the vehicle. We could have tried to capture it or smash it, but what if that didn’t go so well? Being in a submersible 100 feet underwater with a docile bee is one thing. Being in a submersible 100 feet underwater with an angry bee would be quite another!
I’ve been a meditator since I was quite young, and this was a time when mindfulness came in handy. It helped me stay calm, centered, and fully present in the moment. Instead of getting freaked out or letting thoughts of a bee sting consume me, I took a few deep breaths and focused on the beauty of my surroundings, and let the bee be part of the adventure.
The bee settled in for the ride perched on my leg.
The Undersea World of Lake Tahoe: Mapping Ancient Trees
I finally turned my full attention to our task at hand, which was diving to 113 feet and exploring the beautiful ancient forest that lay at the bottom of the lake. I helped Scott finish up his work surveying and mapping the locations of the ancient trees.
The ancient trees on the bottom of Lake Tahoe are a fascinating discovery. These trees have been well-preserved, and some of them are thought to be over a thousand years old. They were once part of a dense forest that covered the area before the lake was formed. As the lake levels rose, the trees were submerged and slowly sunk to the bottom. The low-oxygen environment and cold water have helped to preserve them remarkably well, including their roots and branches.
A school of trout swam in and out of the trees. An old wooden rowboat lay at the bottom of the lake intact. I could practically see the ghostly images of people fishing from it in days gone by. It’s easy to lose yourself, caught up in the tranquility and silence under the lake. The bee still hadn’t moved as if it thought my leg was a comfy spot to take a nap.
The Top
Before I knew it, it was time to return to the surface and the world above. As we got closer to the surface, we could see the sunlight peeking through the water and the people on the dock waiting for our return.
The bee stirred with the first rays of sunlight and flew up to the canopy as if it was trying to get as close to the sun as possible. Its solar compass had kicked into full gear.
We popped out of the water into the full daylight, and our submarine cowboy wrangled us back to the dock. As soon as the crew opened our little yellow submersible, the bee flew away.
Exploring Lake Tahoe in a submersible was a fascinating experience. Exploring the ancient trees provided a glimpse into the history of the lake and the surrounding environment. It was an opportunity to witness the passage of time and gain a deeper appreciation for the natural world. However, it’s the bee that sticks in my mind. Life can and will throw all sorts of curve balls and chaos at you. Approaching any situation with a calm and curious attitude can help you embrace the unexpected. I think of the bee with much appreciation for that reminder.
Scott and his team are continuing their expeditions. You can keep up with their latest adventures at the Undersea Voyager Project.
