Rob McCallum, founder of EYOS and the deepest-diving New Zealander, has been appointed inaugural member of DEEP’s Strategic Advisory Council.

“Few bold projects are ever easy or assured. DEEP seeks to ‘move the needle’ rather than settle for the status quo, the harder pathway rather than the easier goal; it is initiatives of this nature that are needed to take the bold steps forward, even when the pathway cannot be defined.”

 

– Rob McCallum

 

London, UK and Massachusetts, USA, 6 March 2024: DEEP® (www.deep.com), the international ocean technology and exploration organisation, is proud to reveal Rob McCallum as the first member of its Strategic Advisory Council.

The Strategic Advisory Council at DEEP will consist of a group of distinguished experts and professionals across various fields related to marine engineering, expeditions, marine science and technology, commercial diving, medicine, government and regulated bodies. The Council’s diverse expertise will play a crucial role in guiding DEEP’s mission of pioneering a new era of ocean exploration.

Rob’s extensive background in deep-sea expeditions and his leadership in founding EYOS Expeditions, (www.eyos-expeditions.com) the world’s foremost provider of expedition services which undertakes around 80 ‘challenging environment’ expeditions per year, make him an invaluable asset to DEEP and its network of partners.

DEEP’s President, Sean Wolpert commented:

“We’re proud to welcome Rob McCallum to DEEP’s Strategic Advisory Council. His unparalleled expertise in leading ground-breaking ocean expeditions will be instrumental as we venture into a new era of ocean exploration. Rob’s vision and ability to elevate ocean awareness and understanding through his work aligns perfectly with our mission to ‘make humans aquatic’.”

McCallum’s role as an Advisor will encompass: Strategic Guidance, Technical Insight, Outreach & Awareness/Brand Ambassador, and Mentorship. His expertise and leadership will be pivotal in driving DEEP’s mission forward, paving the way for revolutionary discoveries and technologies in ocean exploration.

About Rob McCallum

Rob McCallum’s expertise in deep-water submersible operations is unparalleled, having led expeditions in some of the world’s most remote and hostile environments, from the icy expanses of Antarctica to the depths of the ocean trenches. He has been involved in every dive to Challenger Deep except Trieste (1960). He dived to full ocean depth (10,925m) in 2021. He has planned, managed and led expeditions to the deepest point in all five oceans (The 10 month ‘Five Deeps Expedition’ circumnavigation) and all the world’s 10,000m trenches.

Additionally, it was McCallum’s management of the creation of the research vessel and yacht MV Alucia (now RV Hydra) which informed the subsequent development of the Damen/EYOS ’SeaXplorer’ range of purpose-built expedition vessels.

McCallum’s contributions extend beyond expedition leadership, as he has been actively involved in advancing ocean science and exploration initiatives. As a founding partner of Yachts for Science and a trustee for organisations such as Nekton and Ocean Census, he is deeply committed to driving forward the frontiers of ocean exploration and research. His extensive consultancy work with prestigious institutions like Harvard University and renowned media outlets such as National Geographic and BBC, underscores his reputation as a trusted advisor.

With McCallum’s unparalleled expertise and track record of success, his insights will be invaluable in guiding DEEP towards its mission of making ocean exploration as ubiquitous as terrestrial exploration.