Don Walsh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Don Walsh
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Walsh in 2010
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| Born | November 2, 1931 Berkeley, California, U.S.
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| Died | November 12, 2023 (aged 92) Myrtle Point, Oregon, U.S.
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| Alma mater | United States Naval Academy |
| Known for | Trieste |
| Awards | Hubbard Medal (2010) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | United States Navy |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Navy |
| Rank |  Captain |
| Awards |
  Hubbard Medal |
Don Walsh (born November 2, 1931 – died November 12, 2023) was an American expert in ocean science, an explorer, and a specialist in marine policy. He is famous for a historic dive he made with Jacques Piccard.
On January 23, 1960, they went to the deepest part of the world's oceans, called the Challenger Deep. They used a special deep-sea vehicle called the bathyscaphe Trieste. The dive reached a depth of about 35,813 feet (10,916 m), which was a world record. Later, more exact measurements showed the depth was about 35,798 feet (10,911 m).
Contents
Don Walsh's Life Story
Don Walsh was born in Berkeley, California, on November 2, 1931. He spent over 50 years working with ocean science, engineering, and marine policy.
After graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1954, he became an officer in the United States Navy. He rose to the rank of captain before he retired. He spent 15 years at sea, mostly on submarines, and was even a submarine commander. He also worked on research and development for the U.S. Navy related to oceans.
After his Navy career, Walsh became the Dean of Marine Programs at the University of Southern California. He started and led the university's Institute for Marine and Coastal Studies. He also worked with a company that made systems for ships. In 1989, his own company, International Maritime Incorporated, partnered with a Russian ocean institute. They created a company called Soyuz Marine Service, which still works in Russia. Walsh continued to support ocean science through his work with the Ocean Sciences Board.
Later Years and Continued Exploration
Don Walsh lived with his wife, Joan, in Sitkum, Oregon, on a ranch he bought in 1992. From 1976, he ran a marine consulting business. Around 2010, he was still going on about five deep-sea trips each year. He stayed involved with the National Academy of Sciences and was a professor at Oregon State University.
Walsh visited the wreck of the RMS Titanic on July 20, 2001. He used a submersible called MIR 2 for this trip.
In 2010, Walsh visited the Chinese deep-sea submersible Jiaolong. He saw how it was built and learned about China's plans for deep-sea exploration. China aimed to dive to 7,000 meters (about 4.35 miles) by 2012.
Walsh also joined the team that helped with the Deepsea Challenger mission. During this mission, filmmaker James Cameron made a solo dive to the bottom of the Challenger Deep on March 26, 2012.
A book called No More Worlds to Conquer by Chris Wright was inspired by Don Walsh. The book is about what happens after a person's biggest achievement. Walsh once joked that after his Trieste dive, "a lot of people think I died."
In 2019, Walsh was there to congratulate Victor Vescovo. Vescovo completed his own record-breaking dives to the Challenger Deep. In June 2020, Walsh's son, Kelly, also dived to the Challenger Deep with Vescovo. This made Kelly the twelfth person to reach the deepest point in the ocean.
Don Walsh passed away at his home in Myrtle Point, Oregon, on November 12, 2023, at the age of 92.
Awards and Recognition
Don Walsh earned several degrees, including a bachelor's degree in engineering from the United States Naval Academy. He also had master's degrees from San Diego State University and Texas A&M University, where he also earned a PhD in physical oceanography.
He was chosen by Presidents Carter and Reagan to serve on the U.S. National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere. He also advised the U.S. Department of State on ocean laws. From 1990 to 1993, he was part of the Marine Board of the U.S. National Research Council. In 2001, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering. He also taught at Oregon State University in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences.
Life magazine named Don Walsh one of the world's greatest explorers. He spent more than five decades traveling the world, doing research in and around the oceans.
In 1961, Walsh was honored as one of 50 outstanding Americans. He was a special guest at the first annual Banquet of the Golden Plate in Monterey, California. This honor was given by the National Panel of Distinguished Americans.
On April 14, 2010, the National Geographic Society gave Walsh its highest honor, the Hubbard Medal. This ceremony took place in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Navy also gave him its Distinguished Public Service Award.
In September 2020, a new award was created in his honor: the MTS/SUT Captain Don Walsh Award for Ocean Exploration. Edith Widder was the first person to receive this award.
See also
- Walsh Spur
- List of people who descended to Challenger Deep
- In Spanish: Don Walsh para niños
