THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR 

 WASHINGTON 



PREFACE 



Daily it becomes clearer that man's very survival on this 

 planet is ultimately linked to his ability to use properly 

 the natural resources of the lands and the oceans. We are 

 now beginning to realize that while selfishness and greed 

 may indeed play a role, most of our environmental ailments 

 are the result, not of men scheming to despoil or destroy 

 the environment for profit, but simply of lack of adequate 

 foresight. We owe it to the generations that follow to 

 look ahead as far as possible and to avert the thoughtless 

 and expedient foreclosure of environmental options. 



While the oceans have long been studied from the surface, 

 many information gaps still exist, and some aspects of 

 marine research require a more direct approach than has 

 been possible until now. Recent technological advances 

 allow us safely to place scientists and engineers for 

 prolonged periods on the ocean floor, where they can study 

 and learn under conditions approaching those found in land- 

 based laboratories. As this report indicates, aquanaut- 

 scientists now can move freely beneath the sea in complete 

 harmony with the marine ecosystem. 



The TEKTITE II program, led by the Department of the 

 Interior, was a "giant step" for man- in- the -sea . . . many 

 steps must follow to find answers to the complexities of 

 our planetary sea before we can fully assess and wisely 

 utilize its potential for achieving a fuller life for man- 

 kind. 



