La Casa in fondo al Mare - Progetto Abissi

2005 Edition - 2007 Edition - Photogallery

Project abysses 2005 Stefania Mensa and Stefano Barbaresi set the new record of diving time in the sea of Ponza (240 hours of diving).

The explorer team Pellicano carried out the project “Abysses 2005”, called the house in the deep sea, in Ponza Island from 7th to 17th September 2005. Over 60 people took part in this project: 10 days underwater, doing the usual activities of everyday life, without surfacing with the support of a small "dry" habitat. It was an idea of Pierfranco Bozzi, the team manager of Explorer Team Pellicano, who drew on a subject of Cousteau: The house in the deep sea. This project, carried out with the support of the USA navy in the fifties-sixties, enabled to study tissue saturation, working out decompression lists. We had a scientific – medical interest to this project and could rely on an excellent medical staff from the university La Sapienza di Roma, La Cattolica , La Bicocca di Milan and the hospitals San Gallicano, San Andrea, Policlinico Gemelli and the Roman hyperbaric Centre, where the Hyperbaric Medicine Expert Corrado Costanzo, the coordinator of our medical staff, works.

The medical - scientific program foresaw different specialized areas:
Cardiology: Thorough check-up before diving, application of cardiac holter for heartbeat registration in the water in order to have echocardiograms before, during and after diving.
Angiology: Transcranial Doppler ultrasound before and after diving.
Maxillo-facial: Study of the upper respiratory tracts free from possible occlusions, experiencing preventive therapies.
Endocrinology: Study of the stress hormones before, during and after diving, taking of blood samples underwater.
Diet: Great care has been given to the diet before and during diving.
Dermatology: Study of skin in a environment with a very high humidity rate.
Psychology: The psychological tests were very important criterions to choose the two divers. The psychologists gave psychological support during the complete operation.
Hyperbaric medicine: Spirometrical tests in collaboration with an engineer of the Superior Health Institute; control of the pulse oxymeter parameters (Pp 02) and cardiac holter. The equipment has been carried into the water with tight breathing apparatus.

But how was the life underwater?

We could enjoy this experience thanks to the staff of 60 people who put their professionalism and time at our disposal. Our house in the deep sea consisted of two beds, where we slept with the air-filled diving suit. We had a big mask, which enabled us to breath through the nose, regulating the air flow and making the respiration more natural. The alternative was the normal regulator with a small mask, which prevented an accidental loss of the regulator during the sleep. We had cyclettes and tapis in order to train, while the time away and get warm. In the middle of the house, there was a sitting room with a table and four chairs, where we received our guests, watched TV, made psychological tests and enjoyed various pastime activities. Every object was anchored at the seabed through weights over 40000 kg. The dry habitat consisted of a steel cylindrical container (3,60x1,60) at 6 m from the surface, anchored through a weight of 30000 kg and filled with air by four compressors. This “bell” enabled us to relieve ourselves, eat, change our diving suit/undersuit, sleep and undergo medical tests. Our time passed quickly thanks to the constant presence of the assistants, who always supported us in every difficulty, caused by the bulky equipment, the cold etc… It was a wonderful experience. I would repeat it. ....We are working at a new project with a bigger EXPLORER TEAM PELLICANO, six athletes, a NEW HOUSE IN THE DEEP SEA and new resources. We will give you the possibility of taking part in the next event.