Who's doing what...

While our team members are multi-talented and the roles each of us will play are various and subject to change, here is a brief outline of the major responsibilities each of us will have during the exploration of Mine #2 on Bell Island

Rick Stanley: As Project Senior Executive Rick has been responsible for getting this project from a concept to reality... he has worked hard and for the duration of the expedition, our hope is he can relax and enjoy his role as survey diver and Project Videographer. "Best kind, Ricky!"

Stephen Phillips: Chief of Logistics for the Dive Team, which essentially means that Stephen will be the go-to-it guy for "dive stuff." Because Stephen is the closest thing we have to a diplomat on this team, he will liaise between the surface support team and the divers to make sure what we need to have on site at the beginning of each day's diving is on site. Stephen will be working closely with Project Manager Steve Moore... after all, they both have odd accents and the same first name so it seems fitting.

David Sawatsky, MD: As well as being our onsite doc, David will be the Project Surveyor responsible for collecting and collating daily survey data and assembling it into something resembling a readable report. His experience in mapping caves in similar conditions to those we expect to find in Bell Island Mine makes him the natural choice for this role.

Debbie Stanley: Rick’s wife and co-visionary for this project and one of the original exploration team, will work principally as one of the survey team and will more than likely have her hands full keeping the rest of us in line during surface intervals. While the term Den Mother would be inappropriate, I think Lion Tamer is fitting. Debbie will also wield a camera during our underwater adventures.

Phil Short: Phil has extensive experience both as an explorer and putting together the bits and pieces for TV shows that tell the story about exploration, and so as well as being one of our principle survey divers and long-range diver, Phil will also work as creative consultant with the project photographers.

Aaron Bruce: While he applied for the job as Project Wine Butler, Aaron’s talents will be directed to running the dive support team and as Support Team Leader he is the man who will arrange to have hot chocolate waiting for the survey divers when they begin their decompression in the main shaft of #2 Mine… I have no idea how he will arrange this without a habitat but at least we know he WILL have spare deco gas and a warm smile waiting.

Ralph Hoskins: As Dr. David’s long-time dive buddy and right-hand man, Ralph will work as Assistant Project Surveyor helping to make sense of the chicken scratches and poorly scribbled notes some of us will be handing in at the end of each dive.

Mike Fowler: Is a welcome late addition to the team and one guy I am very pleased to have on board… although he does help tip the scales very decidedly towards the theme song for this project being Rule Britannia… I can live with that and Mike will be a Safety Officer with particular focus on the CCR divers.

Vlada Dekina: A long-time friend and one of the most talented wreck photographers I know, Vlada is a newly minted full cave diver and will serve as our second Official Photographer and be an important part of our in-water support team.

Joe Steffen: Originally recruited for his skills cooking over an open fire, and taken on as part of the Survey Team, Joe will also assist with Team Logistics helping to make sure we start the day with a full fill, two fins and a dry suit of some description… Since Joe’s luggage is usually the first to be misplaced by carriers serving St John’s Airport and the last to be found, he has special talents scrounging dive gear.

Dave Clemmens: As well as a survey diver, Dave has the important task of keeping the world informed about our progress via this blogsite. We expect nothing but glowing reports of the team’s progress from day to day and no mention of whatever happens during various screeching in and related fish-kissing ceremonies planned for the many newcomers to the Rock.

Steve Moore: As Project Manager, Steve has worked wonders already with sponsors and various local supporters and for the duration of the expedition will be Mr. Fix-it running around like a headless chicken wondering why he ever left the piece and quiet of the Royal Air Force.

David Powell: Thank the gods that Dave is Operations Manager because as well as helping to make sure things run smoothly getting to and from the mine site, he will have the job of pointing Steve Moore in the right direction every morning at dawn… and explaining to him why retiring from the British Military was a wise career move.

Susan Copp: A great organizer and a stickler for detail, Susan will work as Project Administrator and be responsible for logging our exploits and keeping track of our time in the water and helping to make sure none of us turns into a clammy prune. She is also charged with making sure that no team member leaves the project without tasting some traditional Newfoundland and Labrador grub… “Will there be seconds o’flipper, me dear?”

Mark McGowan: We needed one sane, responsible team member and Mark is it. As a career peace office, he also has the kind of logical mind that will be helpful assisting Susan with Project Record Keeping. Now the challenge is going to be how he is going to get his horse and that bloody great big lance down the mine shaft.

Steve Lewis: Me… well, having handed out responsibilities for most of the important tasks to all the other team members, my main job will be keeping Rick’s father company and having a “wee swallie” when the time arises.

Steve Lewis