Reflections on the night "down under"

It's isn't Australia I've been to, rather it's the ocean floor I've spent the last 24 hours with. The ocean is a compelling force. The fish and other marine life are still so foreign even 25 years after the first Cousteau programs were broadcast. I remember sitting in front of our family's TV completely enthralled with both Jacque Cousteau's images and his narration of undersea explorations. The exotic images seemed more natural with him speaking in English with his French accent. No matter what he said, I believed him, and I was amazed at what he could do.

Now, having spent my own first night under the ocean, in one of only four habitats in the world, I think I'm not qualified, not inspirational enough to continue his mission of educating the world about Earth's oceans and the science required to learn more. I am more comfortable discussing the explorations of our universe. But I hope that the participants in this project and the users of our website understand the similarities of living and working in alternative environments, whether in the oceans or in space. Though I never thought so before, I now know that given the chance I would venture into space, if nothing else, for that amazing feeling of being somewhere other than "home."