R. T. (Phil) Nuytten, OBC, L.L.D., D.Sc

 Phil Nuytten has spent his life in subsea exploration. He has logged many thousands of hours underwater world-wide as a working commercial diver, and as a developer of underwater equipment and techniques. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of the modern commercial diving industry and a significant force in the creation of new technology.

In the 1960's and 70's, Nuytten was heavily involved in experimental deep-diving and the development of mixed gas decompression tables. In 1968 he was a member of the team that completed the first 600 foot ocean ‘bounce’ dives on ‘Project Nesco’, and in 1972 he wrote the protocol for ‘Deep Work 1000’, the first North American thousand foot saturation dive. These early projects helped set the international standards in use today.

In 1965 Nuytten founded Can-Dive Services Ltd, and in 1969, he co-founded Oceaneering International Inc. Both companies pioneered many early subsea development projects, and Oceaneering has gone on to become one of the largest publicly traded underwater skills companies in the world.

In the 1970’s, working with long-time colleague Dr. Joe MacInnis, Nuytten headed the equipment research component of a series of high-arctic expeditions. Among the goals of these expeditions was the testing of Nuytten’s designs of life-support gear for use in polar and sub-polar conditions. In 1984, Phil Nuytten appeared on the cover of National Geographic Magazine for his record dives through ice-covered arctic waters onto the ‘Breadalbane’, the northern-most known shipwreck. His involvement in underwater activities in virtually all of the world’s oceans has resulted in articles on his work in Reader’s Digest, Business Week, Newsweek, Time, Popular Science, Discovery, Fortune, and Scientific American, as well as dozens of dozens of diving and aerospace technical journals.  Nuytten is a popular speaker at underwater conferences around the world and has published numerous technical papers on his leading-edge work in subsea technology.

Phil Nuytten has been instrumental in the development and current acceptance of Atmospheric Diving System technology. In 1977, he began work on a revolutionary new one-atmosphere diving suit that resulted in a patented break-through in rotary joint design, and formed the basis for the world-famous NEWTSUIT. The NEWTSUIT is a thousand foot-rated hard suit that completely protects the wearer from outside pressure and eliminates the need for decompression while still maintaining mobility and dexterity – a “submarine that you wear”. It is now standard equipment in many of the world’s navies.

Among his diverse interests, Phil Nuytten is a noted expert on West Coast Indian Art. In 1982 he published a book called The Totem Carvers.  An accomplished carver himself, Nuytten is of Métis descent, has been adopted into the West Coast Kwakiutl tribe and is active in the potlatch system. Nuytten also frequently acts as a consultant for appraisals of West Coast Native art and antiquities.

In 1987, Phil Nuytten was the recipient of the “Canadian Award for Business Excellence” given by the Canadian government for his NEWTSUIT development.

In 1988, the Association of Diving Contractors presented Nuytten with the industry’s highest award: the John Galletti Memorial Award and induction into the ‘Commercial Diving Hall of Fame’.  He was the first Canadian to receive this award, which is presented to those who have made significant accomplishments and contributions to the diving industry.  Also in 1988 Nuytten received the Canadian Advanced Technology Award from the Canadian government.

In 1990, Nuytten was given the “Life Sciences” Award for “leadership and service to the institute” by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.