On September 4, 2024, Molly Graham interviewed Cliff Newell in Phippsburg, Maine, for the NOAA Heritage Oral History Project. Newell discusses his family’s Irish immigrant background, early life in Bath, Maine, and his father’s career as a shipyard worker and police officer. He reflects on his childhood experiences, education, and initial interest in marine technology and diving, which shaped his career trajectory. Newell describes his work with the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, including sea sampling and offshore tagging of lobsters, and his transition to NOAA, where he contributed to the development of underwater habitats like EDALHAB and Helgoland. He recounts his involvement in diving operations, including Navy dive training and supervising research missions in extreme environments such as the Bering Sea. Newell also discusses his role in advancing NOAA’s dive safety protocols, training over 1,200 divers, and establishing the NOAA Diving Program in Seattle.

On September 22, 2024, Molly Graham interviewed Cliff Newell in Phippsburg, Maine, for the NOAA Heritage Oral History Project. The interview explores Newell's extensive experience in underwater research and NOAA's diving programs, including his participation in the Florida Aquanaut Research Endeavor (FLARE), which utilized the EDELHAB habitat for saturation dives. He discusses studying artificial tire reefs and the challenges posed by chemical leaching, as well as his observations on the adaptation of marine life to these structures. Newell details his work with various underwater habitats, including Hydrolab in St. Croix and Helgoland, where he conducted research on herring spawning and hydroacoustics. He recounts his involvement in saturation dives, including the logistics, living conditions, and decompression protocols, and reflects on the role of such projects in advancing marine science. The interview also covers the evolution of NOAA's diving program, his role in establishing standardized equipment protocols, and the integration of hyperbaric chambers for diver safety. Newell shares anecdotes about his collaboration with notable figures such as Sylvia Earle and Morgan Wells, the establishment of NOAA's Aquarius habitat, and his contributions to training programs for NOAA divers and medical personnel. He also addresses the challenges of diving in contaminated environments, his participation in the recovery efforts following maritime accidents, and the broader implications of NOAA's research on fisheries and marine ecosystems.