In 2000, a special team made a total of five trips to Malheur Cave in eastern Oregon, with the objectives of exploring the underwater portion of the cave and making a documentary film about that exploration. Each trip consisted of 3 to 4 days of actually living in the cave while the project was underway.
The team included:
Karl Anderson - Project leader, Director, NSS Cave Diver Dr. Tom Iliffe - Aquatic Cave Biologist (from Texas A & M University) and NSS Cave Diver Dr. John Markham - Marine biologist (from Arch Cape Marine Laboratory) and diver Dave Watts - Project co-leader, diver Armin Paetzold, NSS Cave Diver Sid Macken - Underwater videographer, diver Joe - Safety officer, diver Steve Marriott - Electrician, diver Ann Gregory - Still photographer Richard Gregory - Surface support Chris Sehmel - Surface support, diver Chris Green - Surface support Jason Royal - Surface support Autumn Anderson - Surface support Levi Anderson - Surface support Lee - Surface support Dawn Ulrich - Cook
Karl, Tom. and Dave
A ton of dive gear was used!
Inside the cave, Chris Sehmel talks to local school children about dive gear.
Base Camp
Dive staging area
Dave and Karl
Steve Marriott
Tom has a great knack for drawing with light!
We did filmed interviews with elders of the Paiute tribe, whose parents and grandparents hid out from the U.S. Cavalry in this cave!
Cave entrance
New species!
We discovered a new species that exists nowhere else in the world but in this cave - an amphipod, distant relative of crabs and shrimp.
The Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. now has two specimens that Tom collected.
Of course when U of W heard about our discovery, they opened the doors of their biology lab to Tom!
Seen for the first time on the scope's monitor!
And Jim Newman with Oregon Field Guide was on location to do a mini version of our film.
Many thanks to Jim Newman and Steve Amen -- you guys did a stellar job!
The episode premiered on Oregon Field Guide in 2001 and has been shown on OPB at least six times since! It is Episode 1301.
And we are extremely grateful to the many sponsors who provided equipment or funding for this project, which includes:
COBRA KAYAKS UNDERWATER KINETICS DIVE RITE WES SKILES and KARST PRODUCTIONS DURACELL MAG INSTRUMENTS PRESSED STEEL CATALINA CYLINDERS The NATIONAL SPELEOLOGICAL SOCIETY CAVE DIVING SECTION COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR HIGHLAND MILLING AMPHIBIOUS OUTFITTERS
Without their generous support, this project would not have been possible!
2008 - The Rising Sun Project, more recently known as The Oregon Coast Project
(Still in production)
A few glimpses of work on different phases of the project...and some of the many people who are involved with it or connected to it in one way or another...
Team 1
Team 2
We also want to recognize our sponsors for this project and express our sincerest gratitude for their support with the equipment or services they have graciously provided to this project:
TERRY LEARNED BOATS, Pacific City, Oregon
LLOYD HODGE
GREG'S MARINE SERVICE, Garibaldi, Oregon
Please check back - the actual details of this project are currently CLASSIFIED.
Karl, Tom. and Dave
A ton of dive gear was used!
Inside the cave, Chris Sehmel talks to local school children about dive gear.
Base Camp
Dive staging area
Dave and Karl
Steve Marriott
Tom has a great knack for drawing with light!
Cave entrance
New species!
Of course when U of W heard about our discovery, they opened the doors of their biology lab to Tom!
Seen for the first time on the scope's monitor!
And Jim Newman with Oregon Field Guide was on location to do a mini version of our film.
Team 1
Team 2
