Seavision Underwater Solutions Films Gulf Oil Spill
Jeff Snyder, president of SeaVision Underwater Solutions, has produced undersea footage of the Gulf oil spill off near Louisiana aboard a 26-foot catamaran, surveying the effects from last month's catastrophic oil spill for CNN. Using a ROV fitted with a camera, Snyder spent an entire weekend shooting video from several different depths up to 60 miles away from the source of the leak.
"The full scope of the spill has not been captured by anyone," Snyder said. "The oil out in the open water is everywhere."
Snyder has fourteen years experience working on the water, including a stint as a special operations officer with the Navy. He's trained in a variety of diving systems and deck operations, including using sonar technology to conduct underwater searches. He has lent his expertise on various marine construction projects, including surveying the footings on the Mt. Hope Bridge. He started his company in Connecticut before moving to Little Compton two years ago.
Last month's explosion on an offshore drilling rig has resulted in millions of gallons of oil being spilled into the Gulf. Thick sludge has reached the shoreline and the federal government declared a fishing disaster in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. A recent "top kill" procedure, which involved shooting concrete and mud into the well to close it, does not seem to be working, according to BP officials.
Snyder is concerned the footage people have seen on television is not accurately portraying the level of damage to the underwater habitat. "You can look at an aerial photo, but that's just what is on the surface," he said. "People are starting to take a harder look at what's going on underwater." Snyder said a more timely response by BP could have reduced the devastation, but locals are doing everything in their power to remedy the situation.
The conditions are particularly dire for people who make their living on the water, he said. "Commercial fishing is much more significant down in the Gulf than it is up here," Snyder said. "People are working around the clock. They are doing everything they can to clean it up."
