Phil Nuytten
| Phil Nuytten | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1941 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Citizenship | Canadian |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, deep-ocean explorer, scientist, inventor |
| Years active | 1955-present |
| Employer | Self |
| Organization | Nuytco Research Ltd. |
| Known for | Newtsuit |
R. T. "Phil" Nuytten (born 1941) is a Canadian entrepreneur, deep-ocean explorer, scientist, inventor of the Newtsuit, and founder of Nuytco Research Ltd.[1][2][3]
He has pioneered designs related to diving equipment,[3] and has worked with NASA for more than 25 years on applications related undersea and space technologies.[2]
Today, his equipment is used by a wide range of organizations, including the National Geographic Society, NASA, and is standard for almost a dozen navies.[3]
Early life
Nuytten was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, and is a Métis. He was subsequently formally adopted into the Kwakiutl nation.[3] While still in his teens, he began to design diving gear, and opened the first dive shop in Western Canada.[3]
Career
Nuytten has worked in numerous countries as a commercial diver. In his work for the commercial, scientific, and military industries, he has developed equipment and deep-water diving, and technical diving techniques.[2]
During the 1960s and 1970s, Nuytten was involved in the development of mixed-gas decompression tables. He was part of a team that accomplished the first 600 FSW (feet of seawater) ocean "bounce" dives on Project Nesco.[2]
In the 1970s, he co-founded Oceaneering International, Inc. This company became one of the largest underwater skills companies in the world.[2]
In 1983, Nuytten appeared on the cover of National Geographic Magazine due to his dives into arctic waters to the HMS Breadalbane.[2][4]
Media appearances
Resulting from his contributions to marine diving technologies, Nuytten has appeared in the media numerous times, including: National Geographic Magazine, Time, Newsweek, Popular Science, Discovery, Fortune, Scientific American and Business Week.[2]
Film and television
For twenty years, Nuytten has been featured in, and worked on the production of films and television programs based on technology he developed, such as:[1]
- Descent of Man (CBC)
- Mysteries of the Sea (NBC)
- Pressure Point (Walt Disney)
- [Pacific Abyss] (BBC)
- [Jaws of Death] (Bruce Martin Productions)
- [Octopus Hunt] National Film Board of Canada)
- [28 Above, Below] (National Film Board of Canada
- [D Day, Underwater] (Discovery Channel)
Nuytten provided the submersibles and was the senior technical advisor for the film The Abyss. His Newtsuit is featured in the IMAX movie Flight of the Aquanaut.[1]
Newtsuit
In 1979, Nuytten started work on the Newtsuit, a one-atmosphere diving suit. The revolutionary new design features fully articulated rotary joints.[5] This patented breakthrough design is now used in many subsequent atmospheric diving suits.[2]
Exosuit
In 2000, Nuytten announced that he is developing a new type ultra lightweight powered exoskeleton called the Exosuit This new designed is being considered for use as a submarine escape device by the Canadian Department of Defense.[2]
Awards and commendations
- Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences (Hall of Fame membership)[3]
- American Association of Aeronautics and Astronautics
- American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (Life Sciences Award)
- Canadian Advanced Technology Award
- Canadian Award for Business Excellence
- Contractors International’s Commercial Diving (Hall of Fame membership)[3]
- Diving Association of Diving Contractors
- Diving Hall of Fame (induction)
- Explorers Club (Lowell Thomas award)
- John Galletti Memorial Award
- Jules Verne Award[3]
- Order of British Columbia[2]
- Simon Fraser University (honorary Doctor of Laws degree)
See also
References
- 1 2 3 "Nuytten CV" (PDF). Gallant Aquatic Ventures International. Retrieved 2012-05-22.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Phil Nuytten, Ph.D. - NOGI". Auas-nogi.org. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Rolex Awards for Enterprise > Press Room > 2008 Selection Committee > Phil Nuytten". Rolexawards.com. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
- ↑ MacInnis, Joseph B. (July 1983). "Exploring a 140-Year-Old Ship Under Arctic Ice". National Geographic (Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society) 164 (1): 104A–104D.
- ↑ Kesling, Doug E. "Atmospheric Diving Suits – New Technology May Provide ADS Systems that are Practical and Cost-Effective Tools for Conducting Safe Scientific Diving, Exploration, and Undersea Research". In: Pollock NW, ed. Diving for Science 2011. Proceedings of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences 30th Symposium. Dauphin Island, AL: AAUS; 2011. Retrieved 2013-03-06.