David Bright
Encyclopedia
David Bright was a professional wreck diver
. He was the president of the Nautical Research Group, which he founded in 2003, and an avid contributor to documentaries on shipwrecks.
in 1957. He was on his school's swim team and one of his coaches asked if he would be interested in taking scuba
lessons. He became a certified scuba diver at 13 years old and started diving around the New York and Canadian areas. He received two bachelors' degrees in biology
and German
, and two years later got a masters in Physiology
, all from Penn State.
, David returned to diving full time. He began searching famous wrecks like the RMS Titanic, the RMS Empress of Ireland, the USS Monitor
, and the SS Andrea Doria
. His findings helped him get into many documentaries about shipwrecks. He was a member of the Explorers Club, the Marine Technology Society
, American Academy of Underwater Sciences
, North American Society of Oceanic History, Maritime Archaeological and Historical Society and the Pennsylvania State University Eberly College of Science Alumni Board of Directors.
shipwreck, near Nantucket to research her demise. His first expedition to the wreck showed that the SS Stockholm had caused much more damage to the Dorea than had been originally thought. He kept diving to what many considered the Mt. Everest of diving, even after 13 other divers died exploring the wreck. On July 8, 2006 while diving to figure out if any damage was caused to the keel of the ship, Bright suffered from decompression sickness
and went into cardiac arrest. He was pronounced dead at Cape Cod Hospital.
Wreck diving
Wreck diving is a type of recreational diving where shipwrecks are explored. Although most wreck dive sites are at shipwrecks, there is an increasing trend to scuttle retired ships to create artificial reef sites...
. He was the president of the Nautical Research Group, which he founded in 2003, and an avid contributor to documentaries on shipwrecks.
Early life
David A. Bright was born in Niagara Falls, New YorkNiagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
in 1957. He was on his school's swim team and one of his coaches asked if he would be interested in taking scuba
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
lessons. He became a certified scuba diver at 13 years old and started diving around the New York and Canadian areas. He received two bachelors' degrees in biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
and German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, and two years later got a masters in Physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
, all from Penn State.
Diving career
After working for pharmaceutical companies, including PfizerPfizer
Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...
, David returned to diving full time. He began searching famous wrecks like the RMS Titanic, the RMS Empress of Ireland, the USS Monitor
USS Monitor
USS Monitor was the first ironclad warship commissioned by the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She is most famous for her participation in the Battle of Hampton Roads on March 9, 1862, the first-ever battle fought between two ironclads...
, and the SS Andrea Doria
SS Andrea Doria
SS Andrea Doria[p] was an ocean liner for the Italian Line home ported in Genoa, Italy, most famous for its sinking in 1956, when 46 people died. Named after the 16th-century Genoese admiral Andrea Doria, the ship had a gross register tonnage of 29,100 and a capacity of about 1,200 passengers and...
. His findings helped him get into many documentaries about shipwrecks. He was a member of the Explorers Club, the Marine Technology Society
Marine Technology Society
The Marine Technology Society is a professional society that serves the international community of ocean engineers, technologists, policy-makers, and educators. The goal of the society, which was founded in 1963, is to promote awareness, understanding, advancement and application of marine...
, American Academy of Underwater Sciences
American Academy of Underwater Sciences
The American Academy of Underwater Sciences is a group of Scientific organizations and individual members who conduct scientific and educational activities underwater...
, North American Society of Oceanic History, Maritime Archaeological and Historical Society and the Pennsylvania State University Eberly College of Science Alumni Board of Directors.
Andrea Doria
Bright repeatedly dove SS Andrea DoriaSS Andrea Doria
SS Andrea Doria[p] was an ocean liner for the Italian Line home ported in Genoa, Italy, most famous for its sinking in 1956, when 46 people died. Named after the 16th-century Genoese admiral Andrea Doria, the ship had a gross register tonnage of 29,100 and a capacity of about 1,200 passengers and...
shipwreck, near Nantucket to research her demise. His first expedition to the wreck showed that the SS Stockholm had caused much more damage to the Dorea than had been originally thought. He kept diving to what many considered the Mt. Everest of diving, even after 13 other divers died exploring the wreck. On July 8, 2006 while diving to figure out if any damage was caused to the keel of the ship, Bright suffered from decompression sickness
Decompression sickness
Decompression sickness describes a condition arising from dissolved gases coming out of solution into bubbles inside the body on depressurization...
and went into cardiac arrest. He was pronounced dead at Cape Cod Hospital.