Reporter scuba dives in oil-polluted waters

Crossposted from the ACE Blog.

As the oil disaster continues to unfold, we are getting part of the story. We see heartbreaking pictures of wildilfe and hear accounts of devastation from fishermen and other hunters. But we want to know the whole story.

What's the consistency of this oil? How is it moving through the water? How fast? What does it taste like? Smell like? And, how is it really affecting marine life?

An AP reporter is working hard to bring us just that story. Follow him on a journey beneath the surface of these oily waters in this amazing video...



Here's more from the reporter, courtesy of Media Matters - an online nonprofit research and information center...

"In a story datelined, "UNDER THE MURKY DEPTHS OF THE GULF OF MEXICO," Matthews writes, "Some 40 miles out into the Gulf Of Mexico, I jump off the boat into the thickest patch of red oil I've ever seen. I open my eyes and realize my mask is already smeared. I can't see anything and we're just five seconds into the dive.

"Dropping beneath the surface the only thing I see is oil. To the left, right, up and down - it sits on top of the water in giant pools, and hangs suspended fifteen feet beneath the surface in softball sized blobs. There is nothing alive under the slick, although I see a dead jellyfish and handful of small bait fish."