Ron Allum has played a key role in of some of the most audacious explorations of our planet. In 1983 he was a dive leader on a world record 6.24-kilometre exploration of Cocklebiddy Cave which runs under Australia’s vast Nullarbor Plain.
In 2001 he joined James Cameron’s expedition team to Titanic. Over the next four years his technical expertise was key to the success of Cameron’s expeditions to the wreck of the Bismark (depth 4,796m) and the Mid-Atlantic and Pacific hydrothermal vents (1,000-4000m).
Ron commenced work on the Deepsea Challenger submersible in 2005. His many innovative ideas kept the submersible’s weight to a minimum while maximising its ability to conduct science and imaging work at the deepest points on earth.
Following that expedition, he and wife Yvette established Ron Allum Deepsea Services to design and build specialised underwater vehicles, including a full ocean depth autonomous vehicle to collect samples from the Mariana Trench.
Ron has been awarded NSW Senior Australian of the Year in recognition of his outstanding contributions in the fields of engineering, science and exploration; named as one the country’s 50 greatest explorers by the Australian Museum; and honoured with a Lifetime of Adventure Award by Australian Geographic.
