Content area
Full Text
Underwater Pioneer, Submersible Pilot, Filmmaker
Joe Thompson died on December 30, 2002. Joe, born in 1929 in Philadelphia, went on to be a worldwide pioneer in diving, underwater photography, submersible piloting, cinematography and multiple national and regional Emmy winning filmmaker. In addition to his many Emmys, Joe was also an honorary member of the Explorers Club and a plank holder in the Submersible Pilot's Association. Joe will be long remembered by his many friends and associates not only for his professional accomplishments, but for his adventurous spirit, myriad interests and the bigger than life character that he was.
Joe's interest in diving and underwater photography started in the early 50s when he was a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force and later as an engineering student at Penn State. At that time, virtually no SCUBA or underwater photography equipment was commercially available. Joe, as was his usual way, was not to be denied. He built his first underwater breathing equipment by converting emergency mine breathing apparatus and enclosed his land cameras and lights in homemade housings. Wearing long John underwear to keep warm, Joe then busily dove on and photographed wrecks along the coasts of the Mid Atlantic states, honing his skills to his own high standards.
In 1965 Joe joined Westinghouse as a diver, underwater photographer and submersible pilot trainee, supporting their pioneering underwater development efforts. At the time, Westinghouse's Undersea Division was simultaneously working on developing deep diving capabilities both in submersibles and saturation diving. Westinghouse was engaged in the first commercial saturation diving project at Smith Mountain Dam, Va. To the end of strengthening their capabilities in submersible development, Westinghouse had just formed a liaison with...