The Ocean’s Deep Regions with Tim MacDonald

Kathy Sullivan Explores

Tim MacDonald is the Engineering and Operations Manager and Submersible Pilot for scientific and commercial charters at Caladan Oceanic. Tim earned his degree in Offshore Engineering from the Australian Maritime College in Tasmania and recently became the first Australian to dive to the deepest point in the sea: the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench. Tim’s enduring goal is to help marine scientists develop the tools to achieve their research objectives and expand the realm of what’s possible. He achieved this goal as a design engineer for Triton Submarines, where he played a role in building the world’s first truly reusable and reliable full ocean depth submersible, the TRITON 36000/2.

Tim joins me today to discuss how we can deepen our relationship with the ocean and understand our impact on it. You’ll hear about how his passion for the ocean and engineering was shaped and how he divided his university life between studying in classrooms and learning on the field. He describes the time he lived and worked on superyachts and how that experience led him to work for Triton Submarines. You’ll also learn how to immerse your life in a passion and why exploring the ocean matters to humanity.

“We have to understand the impact we’re having on the world, and the only way we can understand our impact is by understanding all the ecosystems we have: above, in the mountains, below, in the ocean, and in our backyards.” - Tim MacDonald

This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:

● A deep dive into Tim’s background and upbringing

● What inspired Tim to move to Tasmania to study at the Australian Maritime College

● His experience working and living aboard a superyacht and his first encounter with a submersible

● Why the best engineers are jacks-of-all trades to some degree

● The university gap year and how Tim split his time in university between studying in classrooms and learning on the field

● Getting into the submarine business and building the world’s first truly reusable and reliable full ocean depth submersible

● The first time Tim piloted a submersible

● The spectator gallery of our lives and answering the “what’s next?” question

● The major moral dilemma of science and why exploring the ocean’s Hadal Zone matters to everyone on the planet

● The Sirena Deep and how the world’s deep trenches are created

● Exploring the Wallaby-Zenith Fracture Zone and the Manganese nodule fields

Our Favorite Quotes:

● “Your first job in the first five years of your working life will define where you end up.” - Tim MacDonald

● “Following any passion is about committing, and the only way to commit is to find something you enjoy doing.” - Tim MacDonald

Connect with Tim MacDonald:

● Caladan Oceanic

● Tim MacDonald on LinkedIn

Spaceship Not Required

I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.

I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.

In this podcast, you can explore, reflecting on lessons learned from life so far and from my brilliant and ever-inquisitive guests. We explore together in this very moment from right where you are--spaceship not required.

Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores.

Visit my website at kathysullivanexplores.com to sign up for seven astronaut tips to improving your life on earth and be the first to discover future episodes and learn about more exciting adventures ahead!

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