News Photo by Kayla Wikaryasz On Wednesday, five teenage scuba divers from Florida and Georgia gave a presentation as part of their SCUBAnauts program and research they are helping conduct at the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS). From left to right, Alaina Earboza, Emma Carr, Maddie Maples, Andre Regateiro, and Graham Moffett are seen standing in front of their projected presentation at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center.

ALPENA — The Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center featured the SCUBAnauts, five teenage scuba divers, as part of their monthly lecture series on Wednesday evening. The lecture was titled “Teenagers Scientific Diving from Reefs to Shipwrecks.”

According to a press release from the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS), the SCUBAnauts are a group of Florida and Georgia teenagers who are working with TBNMS to document shipwrecks. They also are spending time learning about the Great Lakes ecosystem.

The organization’s mission is to educate teens in the marine sciences, according to the press release. They work to train as divers and contribute to marine research. Past projects include coral restoration, seagrass monitoring, and dive physiology studies.

The five SCUBAnauts included Alaina Earboza, a second-class Naut and recent high school graduate, Emma Carr, a Naut-in-training and a rising high school freshman, Maddie Maples, a first-class Naut and a recent high school graduate, Andre Regateiro, a second-class Naut and a rising eighth grader, and Graham Moffett, a second-class Naut and a rising high school sophomore.

According to Carr, Nauts are ranked per their experience.

During the lecture, Moffett explained that Nauts have to complete 100 hours of dive training, first aid training, and must complete various “swim tests.”

Regateiro stated that past trips for Nauts have included Panama City, the Florida Keys, Honduras, and many more. He said that most of the trips that Nauts go on are reef based, so the TBNMS trip has proved to be a unique experience for the young divers.

“Not only is it cold … it’s marine archeology focused,” Regateiro said.

Carr explained that the TBNMS trip has been a learning experience, especially when it came to diving in cold water with dry suits.

“It was challenging to learn,” Carr said. “We are not used to 50-degree water. Our buoyancy is so different in dry suits … some say it is like learning to dive again.”

Carr later explained that dry suits are necessary when diving in cold water because the suits prevent divers’ skin from getting wet and help them retain body heat.

She also said that she’s enjoyed exploring shipwrecks in the sanctuary.

“It’s very interesting to see all the wrecks that have happened,” Carr said. “They all have different stories.”

Maples explained that the trip has consisted of constructing 3D images of shipwrecks, monitoring the sanctuary’s mooring buoy system, acidification water sampling, documenting anchors, and participating in beach cleanups.

Earboza took a moment during the lecture to discuss networking events that Nauts are able to participate in such as gala fundraising events and Capitol Hill Ocean Week — a conference in Washington D.C. to discuss marine and Great Lakes stewardship topics and concerns.

Regateiro added that Nauts are required to participate in outreach opportunities that educate the public about the organization and attempt to recruit new members.

Earboza, Carr, Regateiro, and Moffett said that the Nordmeer has been their favorite wreck to explore thus far. Maples said that the D.M. Wilson has been her favorite, but the Nordmeer is a close second.

Andi Yoxsimer, TBNMS resource protection specialist, expressed that the Nauts have been a great addition to the sanctuary.

“We at (TBNMS) are happy to be working with such a wonderful organization,” Yoxsimer said. “The Nauts are an impressive group of teenagers and we are excited to collaborate with them in a variety of research projects within the sanctuary.”

The five Nauts will be at TBNMS for the remainder of the week.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.