Phil Nuytten facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
René Théophile Nuytten
OC OBC
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Nuytten receiving the Order of British Columbia in 1992
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| Born | 13 August 1941 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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| Died | 13 May 2023 (aged 81) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, deep-ocean explorer, scientist, inventor |
| Years active | 1955–2023 |
| Employer | Self |
| Organization | Nuytco Research Ltd. |
| Known for | Newtsuit |
René Théophile "Phil" Nuytten (August 13, 1941 – May 13, 2023) was a Canadian inventor and explorer. He designed amazing diving gear. His inventions helped people explore the deep ocean. He even worked with NASA for over 25 years.
Phil Nuytten created special equipment for both underwater and space missions. Today, many groups use his inventions. These include the National Geographic Society and NASA. His gear is also standard for many navies around the world.
Contents
Phil's Early Life and First Dives
Phil Nuytten was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He had Métis family roots. Later, he was adopted into the Kwakiutl nation.
He started designing diving gear when he was a teenager. At just 15, he opened the first dive shop in Western Canada. When he was 16, he became a hero. He was one of the first two rescue divers at the scene of the 1958 Second Narrows Bridge collapse.
A Career in Deep-Sea Exploration
Phil Nuytten worked as a commercial diver in many countries. He developed new equipment and techniques. These helped people dive deeper and safer. He worked for commercial, scientific, and military groups.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Phil helped create new ways to dive. These methods used special gas mixtures. He was part of a team that made the first 600-foot ocean dives. This was part of a project called "Project Nesco."
In the 1970s, he helped start Oceaneering International, Inc. This company became one of the biggest underwater service companies.
In 1983, Phil Nuytten was on the cover of National Geographic magazine. This was because of his dives to the shipwreck of the Breadalbane in icy arctic waters.
The Newtsuit: A Revolution in Diving
In 1979, Phil Nuytten began working on the Newtsuit. This was a special diving suit that kept the diver at normal air pressure. It was a huge step forward in diving technology.
The Newtsuit had amazing rotating joints. These joints allowed divers to move their arms and legs easily. This was a patented invention. This breakthrough design is now used in many other advanced diving suits.
Exosuit: A New Kind of Suit
In 2000, Phil Nuytten announced a new project. He was developing a super light powered suit called the Exosuit. This suit was being considered by the Canadian Department of Defense. They thought it could be used as a way for submariners to escape from a sunken submarine.
Vent-Base Alpha: An Underwater City
In September 2018, Phil Nuytten shared an exciting plan. He wanted to build an underwater human city! It would be off the coast of Vancouver, Canada, in the Pacific Ocean.
A first version of the city was planned for 2019. It would have cylinder-shaped living spaces. These would get power from Stirling engines. These engines would use heat from hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor. The buildings would be built on land. Then they would be moved to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and lowered thousands of feet deep.
Phil's Media Appearances
Phil Nuytten's work in marine diving technology made him famous. He appeared in many magazines and on TV.
Magazines and Newspapers
He was featured in magazines like National Geographic, Time, Newsweek, and Popular Science. He also appeared in Discovery, Fortune, Scientific American, and Business Week.
Movies and TV Shows
For 20 years, Phil Nuytten was part of many films and TV shows. These shows often featured the technology he developed. Some of these included:
- Descent of Man (CBC)
- Mysteries of the Sea (NBC)
- Pressure Point (Walt Disney)
- [Pacific Abyss] (BBC)
- [Jaws of Death] (Bruce Martin Productions)
- [Octopus Hunt] (National Film Board of Canada)
- [28 Above, Below] (National Film Board of Canada)
- [D Day, Underwater] (Discovery Channel)
Phil also provided the special underwater vehicles for the movie The Abyss. He was the main technical advisor for the film. His Newtsuit is also shown in the IMAX movie Flight of the Aquanaut.
Awards and Honors
Phil Nuytten received many awards for his amazing work. Some of these include:
- Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences (Hall of Fame)
- American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (Life Sciences Award)
- Canadian Advanced Technology Award
- Canadian Award for Business Excellence
- Contractors International’s Commercial Diving (Hall of Fame)
- Diving Hall of Fame
- Explorers Club (Lowell Thomas award in 2000)
- John Galletti Memorial Award
- Jules Verne Award
- Order of British Columbia
- Simon Fraser University (honorary Doctor of Laws degree)
- Order of Canada (2017)
See also
- Technical diving
- Scuba diving
