Berry L. Cannon

Berry L. Cannon (1935–1969) was an American aquanaut who worked for the United States Navy and was part of the SEALAB program. He is best known for his tragic death during a mission on SEALAB III.

Early Life and Education

Cannon was born in 1935 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Miami where he studied marine biology. After his graduation, he joined the United States Navy and trained as a diver.

Career

Cannon's career in the Navy saw him specializing in underwater operations. He was selected to be part of the SEALAB program, an initiative by the United States Navy to explore the potential for humans to live and work underwater for extended periods. Cannon was part of the team that participated in the SEALAB II mission in 1965, where he and his fellow aquanauts lived underwater for 15 days.

SEALAB III and Death

In 1969, Cannon was part of the SEALAB III mission. During a routine dive, he experienced difficulties with his diving equipment and subsequently died of carbon dioxide poisoning. His death led to the cancellation of the SEALAB program.

Legacy

Cannon's death highlighted the dangers of deep-sea exploration and led to significant improvements in diving safety and equipment. His contributions to the SEALAB program have been recognized by the United States Navy and the diving community.

See Also

• SEALAB
• Aquanaut
• United States Navy