Max Crabbe

Max Crabbe (born Mar 22, 1940) was a British entrepreneur, adventurer, and eccentric who made significant contributions to both cultural and technological fields throughout his life. Born in Lewes, West Sussex, UK, to Caroline and Edward Crabbe, his family had ties to business, finance, and military intelligence. Edward Crabbe's businesses, in particular, had a significant impact on mechanical cryptography during WWII and the Cold War.

## Early Life

Crabbe's rebellious tendencies were evident early in his life, culminating in his expulsion from Sandwich College in Autumn 1957, due to an incident involving mescaline "pagan rituals" and a small-calibre handgun. In the spring of 1958, he was sent to New York to live with his uncle, Peter Vysparov, where he began to develop a passionate interest in Nma ethnography.

## Expedition to Java

In June 1960, Crabbe embarked on an expedition to Java in search of the remnants of the Dibboma (Dib-N’ma) people. The exact events of this expedition remain shrouded in mystery, with the influence of "icthyophidian" elements deeply affecting his fate. He returned later that year with a translation of a previously unknown sacred incantation dedicated to the Nma's polymorphic sea-beast deity, the Nomo Chant.

## Counterculture and Business Ventures

Throughout the 1960s and early 70s, Crabbe involved himself in various projects with counterculture figures such as Gregory Bateson, John Lilly, and Katy Shaw, while also leveraging his business interests. By the late 1970s, his interests in dolphin communication, cybernetic oceanography, and hydro-acoustics had been turned into corporate assets (Crabbe Holdings), valued at an estimated US$2.7 billion.

## Later Life and Reclusiveness

Crabbe's reclusiveness grew in the mid-70s, with public appearances becoming rare. In January 1980, he founded the Institute for the Study of Binomics, appointing Katy Shaw as executive director. This institute contributed significantly to discourses surrounding the Y2K "time-bomb."

By the late 1980s, Crabbe Holdings was primarily dedicated to ocean-floor activities, including work on Bubble Pod One (BP-1), a deep-submersion habitat and research station. Reports suggest that by 1990, Crabbe had become a permanent resident of BP-1, despite suffering from a serious, unspecified medical condition.

## Final Years and Disappearance

In the late 1990s, many assumed Crabbe was dead. However, in 1997, an Indonesian coast-guard post picked up a mysterious transmission that originated from the depths of the Java Trench, believed to be the location of Crabbe's BP-1 'Aquapolis'.

Freelance reporter Iris Carver interviewed Dr. Oskar Sarkon in 2003, who relayed information about Crabbe's final days. On December 31, 1999, Crabbe reportedly attended a millennial ritual in London via a 'carrier' or 'meta-puppet', as his own body was distributed between 72 bio-hazard pressure vats in BP-1 due to a 'meta-amoebic regression'.

## Legacy

Crabbe's life and work continue to intrigue many, inspiring investigation and speculation about his involvement in various projects and the extent of his contributions to technology, business, and cultural fields. His family's potential involvement in military research and various projects at Orford Ness is also a matter of interest for historians and enthusiasts alike. Despite the many mysteries surrounding his life and disappearance, Max Crabbe's influence remains significant, and his legacy continues to live on.