Famed underwater explorer Sylvia Earle and a team of scientists and filmmakers from the National Geographic Explorers Club were in Mathews last week to resurvey underwater sites visited by the late Gilbert Klingel of Gwynn’s Island during his exploration of the Chesapeake Bay in the 1950s.
The group held a panel discussion on their work on May 13 at Williams Wharf Landing, hosted by the Mathews Land Conservancy. Over 150 people attended the event.
In addition to being an explorer and author, Klingel was a noted boatbuilder and metallurgist, and he fabricated a submersible vessel at his Gwynn’s Island boatyard that he and National Geographic photographer Willard Culver used to spend 100 hours underwater, photographing sea creatures and marine vegetation. The result was a well-received 1955 National Geographic article, “One Hundred Hours Beneath the Chesapeake.” The Aquascope diving chamber used in that expedition was recently obtained by the Mathews Museum and was on-site for the event....