Page 37: of Marine Technology Magazine (July 2020)

ocean inf uencersl

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Graham

Hawkes

HAWX Open Ocean

By Celia Konowe

Graham Hawkes is a subsea innovator, explorer, inventor and pusher of boundaries. A pioneer in the realm of ocean engineering, he’s designed and built more than 60 manned submersibles—everything from atmospheric dive suits to ? ying subs. As a test pilot, he’s maintained the deepest solo dive record for more than 20 years. He’s also the founder of HAWX Open Ocean LLC, created to design and build revolutionary marine technologies that enable undersea ac- cess to all.

Inspired by the people he’s encountered throughout his career, Hawkes’ passion of and dedication towards marine exploration has evolved over the years. Meeting marine bi- ologist Sylvia Early “challenged me to achieve the goal of reaching full ocean depth and helped me develop an appre- ciation of all ‘critters’ and a sense of needing to care for this planet,” he said. Later on, upon talking with environmental leader and communicator Julie Silverman, he understood “the need for everyone to have access to the ocean to better inform the stewardship of the planet.” This, coupled with his desire to make a better place for his grandkids, gave birth to HAWX Open Ocean with the focus of working from the bottom-up, or with the next generation of ocean innovators—kids.

Hawkes’ drive is also in? uenced by witnessing the evolu- tion of the subsea industry. In the early days of submersible designing, amidst competition, Phil Nuytten, Canadian en- trepreneur and inventor of the Newtsuit atmospheric diving suit, told Hawkes, “They can copy where I’ve been but they don’t know where I’m going.” Hawkes re? ected, “That has stuck with me through all of the ups and downs of the sub- mersible industry. It keeps pushing me forward knowing that innovation is what comes from your imagination not from someone else’s expectations.”

He is also motivated to make a difference because of a lack of change in the industry, as ocean discovery is still driven by a few wealthy organizations and individuals and

Above Left: Graham Hawkes, pioneering marine en- gineer, owner of HAWX Open Ocean, LLC, inventor of SeaRocket. Left: Graham Hawkes, designer of the Mantis one-man submersible, on set with Roger

Moore, 1981. Hawkes piloted the Mantis sub used against James Bond in the ? lm For Your Eyes Only. © Pinewood Studios © Julie Silverman www.marinetechnologynews.com

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