Kelp is essential to Ryan’s research because within the group of seaweeds, it provides food and habitat for other species. As climate change warms Earth’s oceans, the cold-water adapted kelp’s numbers are falling, affecting the health of Connecticut’s waters, according to Ryan’s research.
Ryan received his Scientific Diver certification with Jeff Godfrey, the Diving Safety Officer for Avery Point’s diving program. He’s always loved the water and grew up trying to be as near it as possible. He became hooked on research as an undergraduate and has found it even more rewarding to focus it on the ocean.
“Diving under the water is a therapeutic experience for me. I get to block out the rest of the world, including my to-do list, and just explore. My favorite memory overall was a dive with other UConn students in Stonington, CT,” Ryan said. “The sun set while we were diving and as we swam back on the surface there were bioluminescent dinoflagellates lighting up a bright blue color as our fins kicked.”
The diving program at Avery Point allows students and researchers to understand the complex and mysterious world of the ocean by putting their eyes and brains directly underwater. Peter Auster, a research professor emeritus in the marine sciences department, has been at UConn for over 40 years and believes the diving program to be an outstanding opportunity.
Having an underwater perspective can be essential for informing the public and policy makers.
“What drives me the most is documenting what is happening so I can share this knowledge with people who live around it and will likely care about it. I truly believe science that is not communicated well will always be bad science,” Ryan said.
Scientific diving is a professional branch of diving, regulated by the government. There is a diving control board, with the majority of members active scientific divers. Aa safety manual vetted by the American Academy of Underwater Sciences allows reciprocity between institutions because they all follow the same rules and guidelines.
Auster’s work on the policy and management side starts at the beach and works its way out to the deep ocean. His recent work has included a project developing habitats and defining the sea-floor communities in Long Island Sound, using camera and scuba work.
“We have lots of issues to try and deal with. Working in the underwater landscape adds a unique perspective to what humans do to the ocean and what we might do to conserve and sustainably use our natural heritage,” Auster said.