Tony Jones

My passion is the ocean. While in high school, I started scuba diving and underwent the University of California scientific aquanaut diver training program. After completing undergraduate education at University of California, Berkeley ( Go Bears! ) with a double degree in marine biology and zoology, I worked on environmental aspects of ocean thermal energy conversion. This engagement led to oceanographic research expeditions off Puerto Rico, Gulf of Mexico and off Hawaii. I completed a Masmyter of Science studying the plankton resource off Puerto Rico. While working on masters, I teamed with Dr. Bob Dill on several diving projects in the Bahamas and off southern California.

From San Diego, I went on to the University of Hawaii to work with the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory where I was fortunate to make several submersible dives to a maximium depth of 1900 m in the Alenuihaha Channel between the islands of Hawaii and Maui. Observations from those dives led to my research on the Hawaii hot spot, lithospheric flexure and the ancient coral reefs in the island archipelago. I earned a doctorate in oceanography from the University of Hawaii. One of my greatest explorations was related to an ascend over 4000 m in the Russian MIR submersible off the island of Hawaii.

My current interest is in using my knowledge of coastal oceans and entrepeurial skills to develop environmentally sound approaches for seawater desalination to produce potable drinking water for water scarce regions of the world.

I hold an instructor rating with NAUI. I served on the board of the Offshore Technology Conference from 2001 to 2011. My past service has included being a director of the Diving Control Board of the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Hawaii as well as Director of the International Marine Mineral Society

I can be contacted at [email protected].