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Parakeet’s DIY ‘Bebosphere’ Dive Goes Viral, Drawing Scrutiny

The video’s reach has turned a DIY pet dive into a test case for animal welfare.

Overview

  • Owner Steven Lawyer took his white-winged parakeet, Bebe, underwater in the Bahamas inside a homemade capsule he calls the Bebosphere.
  • The device, built from a plastic food container, uses a paintball air tank, airflow valves, and an oxygen meter that sounds an alarm if levels fall.
  • Lawyer says he practiced in a sink before the trip, kept the depth to about three feet for roughly 15 minutes, and saw no signs of stress.
  • The Instagram clip has drawn millions of views and even got a jab from Stephen Colbert on The Late Show.
  • Reaction is split between wonder and accusations of animal abuse, and the coverage cites no independent veterinary assessment or regulatory review to date.