to see why her work is so vital. >> reporter: she's out there somewhere. under there somewhere. a woman known as her deepness. and when one of the most respected ocean scientists alive arranges for an urgent meeting at the bottom of the caribbean, you go. to our interview spot 62 feet below the surface. for 20 years, the reef base known as aquarius has bubbled off the florida keys, housing scientists of every stripe. this one-of-a-kind place is endangered, doomed by the federal budget ax. here to try to save it is the former head of noaa, unofficial sturgeon general, sylvia earl. hello, sylvia. good to see you again. >> good to see you, too. >> reporter: thanks for having me in. she originally fell in love with ocean plant life, the microscopic algae responsible for every fifth breath you take.