This series of interviews captures highlights from a lengthy interview with Dr. Robert Schmieder, founder of Cordell Expeditions.
| Question | Summary | Download Mp3 Sound File or PDF Transcript |
|---|---|---|
| When did you first hear about Cordell Bank? | Bob Schmieder, leader of Cordell Expeditions describes his first knowledge that Cordell Bank existed and how he started the exploration of it. | Mp3 File (6.1MB) PDF Transcript |
| How did he explain this dive potential to interested expedition participants? | Bob Schmieder describes how this was not a sport dive and the type of diver he needed to help in the expedition. | Mp3 File (664k) PDF Transcript |
| How did they find Cordell Bank? | Listen as Bob Schmieder, Cordell Expedition leader describes how they located Cordell Bank for their dives. | Mp3 File (1.7MB) PDF Transcript |
| What were the surface conditions like on the day they did the first dive? | Bob describes the conditions of the water the first day they dove Cordell Bank. | Mp3 File (1.5MB) PDF Transcript |
| What were Bob's thoughts on the first dive on Cordell Bank? | Bob Schmieder describes what he was thinking and what he observed as they descended on the first dive on Cordell Bank on Oct 22, 1989. | Mp3 File (5.4MB) PDF Transcript |
| When divers got back on the boat the first time, what did they think? | Bob Schmieder describes the fact that the team would come back over and over again to explore Cordell Bank. | Mp3 File (592k) PDF Transcript |
| Was there concern about encountering sharks? | Bob Schmieder explains thoughts divers had about shark encounters. | Mp3 File (1.7MB) PDF Transcript |
| How was Cordell Bank different than other places on the CA Coast? | Bob Schmieder describes the uniqueness of Cordell Bank compared to other areas in CA. | Mp3 File (1.5MB) PDF Transcript |
| What were some of the achievements the first year of diving? | Bob Schmieder describes the first body of knowledge he gathered about Cordell Bank in the expedition. | Mp3 File (1.1MB) PDF Transcript |
| When did you hear about the National Marine Sanctuary Program? | Bob Schmieder describes his first hearing of the National Marine Sanctuary Program. | Mp3 File (1MB) PDF Transcript |
| The nomination of Cordell Bank as a National Marine Sanctuary. | Bob Schmieder describes the first communications about nominating Cordell Bank to become a NMS | Mp3 File (4.6MB) PDF Transcript |
| The Expedition takes on a new level of importance. | Bob Schmieder's conversations about nominating Cordell Bank as a NMS with Nancy Foster, taking the original goals of the expedition to a new level. | Mp3 File (3.6MB) PDF Transcript |
| How Cordell Bank was established as a National Marine Sanctuary. | Bob Schmieder describes the process of Cordell Bank becoming a NMS and letting go of the project. | Mp3 File (8.1MB) PDF Transcript |
| Cordell Bank was "an obsession" | Bob Schmieder describes his obsession with Cordell Bank during the expedition years, that this was not an adventure, it was done for scientific pursuit. | Mp3 File (1.7MB) PDF Transcript |
| Describing the most memorable underwater experience on Cordell Bank. | Bob Schmieder describes the most memorable experience for him. | Mp3 File (940k) PDF Transcript |
| What do you tell people today about Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary? | Bob Schmieder describes what he tells people today about the National Marine Sanctuary and the legacy he left. | Mp3 File (1.4MB) PDF Transcript |
| What threats exist today for Cordell Bank? | Bob Schmieder describes his concerns for Cordell Bank and national marine sanctuaries. | Mp3 File (2.4MB) PDF Transcript |