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A power generating system for operating below a surface of a body of water includes a fuel cell stack configured to react hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. An oxygen source is configured to provide oxygen to the fuel cell stack. A hydrogen source is configured to provide hydrogen to the fu

A power generating system for operating below a surface of a body of water includes a fuel cell stack configured to react hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. An oxygen source is configured to provide oxygen to the fuel cell stack. A hydrogen source is configured to provide hydrogen to the fuel cell stack. The hydrogen source is at least partially submerged in water and incorporates a non-hydride metal alloy that reacts with water to produce hydrogen from the water.

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1. A power generating system for operating below a surface of a body of water, the system comprising: a fuel cell stack configured to react hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity;an oxygen source configured to provide oxygen to the fuel cell stack; anda hydrogen source configured to provide hydr

1. A power generating system for operating below a surface of a body of water, the system comprising: a fuel cell stack configured to react hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity;an oxygen source configured to provide oxygen to the fuel cell stack; anda hydrogen source configured to provide hydrogen to the fuel cell stack;wherein the hydrogen source is at least partially submerged in water and incorporates a non-hydride metal alloy comprising a magnesium or aluminum base alloyed with nickel that reacts with water to produce hydrogen from the water, the reaction being catalyzed by sodium chloride in the water, and the metal alloy is contained in a reactor volume that allows unassisted entry of surrounding water, such that hydrogen gas produced in the reactor volume supplies the fuel cell stack at a hydrostatic pressure representing a depth of water contacting the metal alloy, a hydrogen volume defining a reactor water level and an amount of alloy surface being wetted by water, thereby controlling a rate of hydrogen generation to meet a rate of hydrogen consumption by the fuel cell stack in response to an electrical load demand;wherein the oxygen source provides oxygen to the fuel cell stack below the surface and comprises air flow from above the water surface, a portion of submerged air suitable for human breathing, and/or dissolved oxygen recovered from the surrounding water;wherein the fuel cell stack operates below the water surface and dissociates hydrogen from the hydrogen source at an anode side of the fuel cell stack into protons and electrons to produce an electric current, and the fuel cell stack recombines the hydrogen with dissociated oxygen from the oxygen source on a cathode side by reaction in a presence of an electrolyte, thereby producing water and heat; andwherein the fuel cell stack is cooled by heat conduction paths from high temperature regions of the fuel cell stack to the water surrounding the system. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the metal alloy includes a magnesium or aluminum base alloyed with nickel of more than 0.1% and less than 7% to provide a sufficient reaction rate to meet a fuel cell stack hydrogen demand. 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the metal alloy is storable in air for more than two years with less than 1% degradation of hydrogen generation capability. 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the metal alloy comprises one or more castings, each casting being removably replaceable. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the castings are configured to provide a sufficient reaction surface area to provide hydrogen to meet a fuel cell stack hydrogen demand without more than 5% loss of hydrogen to the surrounding water. 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the hydrogen volume provides sufficient space above the metal alloy to substantially prevent water entrainment and gas/water bubbles transport to the fuel cell stack, and wherein the hydrogen volume provides sufficient space below the metal alloy to substantially inhibit a loss of hydrogen to the surrounding water. 7. The system of claim 1 wherein the sodium chloride is a catalyzing salt that is dispersed in the metal alloy in an amount of not less than 3% by weight. 8. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is configured such that the total buoyancy of the system varies by less than about 40% during a complete reaction of the metal alloy. 9. A power generating system for operating below a surface of a body of water, the system comprising: a fuel cell stack configured to react hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity;an oxygen source configured to provide oxygen to the fuel cell stack; anda hydrogen source configured to provide hydrogen to the fuel cell stack;wherein the hydrogen source is at least partially submerged in water and incorporates a non-hydride metal alloy comprising a magnesium or aluminum base alloyed with nickel that reacts with water to produce hydrogen from the water, the reaction being catalyzed by sodium chloride in the water, and the metal alloy is contained in a reactor volume that allows unassisted entry of surrounding water, such that hydrogen gas produced in the reactor volume supplies the fuel cell stack at a hydrostatic pressure representing a depth of water contacting the metal alloy, a hydrogen volume defining a reactor water level and an amount of alloy surface being wetted by water, thereby controlling a rate of hydrogen generation to meet a rate of hydrogen consumption by the fuel cell stack in response to an electrical load demand;wherein the oxygen source provides oxygen to the fuel cell stack below the surface and comprises air flow from above the water surface, a portion of submerged air suitable for human breathing, and/or dissolved oxygen recovered from the surrounding water;wherein the fuel cell stack operates below the water surface and dissociates hydrogen from the hydrogen source at an anode side of the fuel cell stack into protons and electrons to produce an electric current, and the fuel cell stack recombines the hydrogen with dissociated oxygen from the oxygen source on a cathode side by reaction in a presence of an electrolyte, thereby producing water and heat; andwherein the fuel cell stack is cooled by heat conduction paths from high temperature regions of the fuel cell stack to the water surrounding the system,wherein a portion of the hydrogen produced or separate air forced from the reactor volume by immersion in the water, is stored in a flotation volume to thereby increase a buoyancy in the water. 10. The system of claim 1 wherein the oxygen source is configured to provide air to the fuel cell stack by free convection induced by heat from the fuel cell stack, the system further comprising a filter and/or float valve configured to substantially prevent water from entering the fuel cell stack. 11. The system of claim 1 wherein the oxygen source is configured to provide air to the fuel cell stack from lung exhaust from a person breathing, the system further comprising a filter, float valve and/or relief valve configured to substantially prevent water from entering the fuel cell stack. 12. The system of claim 1 wherein the oxygen source is configured to provide air to the fuel cell stack from a portion of air also available for breathing by persons submerged below the water surface. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the oxygen source includes lung exhaust from a self contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA). 14. The system of claim 1 wherein the oxygen source is configured to provide oxygen to the fuel cell stack using a hydrophobic microporous hollow fiber membrane or a gas-liquid contactor which allows gas but not liquid to pass through, to recover dissolved oxygen from the surrounding water while utilizing an internal process vacuum induced by oxygen consumption of the fuel cell stack. 15. The system of claim 1 wherein the oxygen source is configured to move air to the fuel cell stack using a means for cooling the fuel cell stack supplemental to a cooling provided by the surrounding water, the system further comprising a filter and/or float valve for preventing water droplets from entering to the fuel cell stack. 16. The system of claim 1 wherein the fuel cell stack includes a hydrogen gas channel inlet, oxygen and/or air gas channel inlets and a plurality of fuel cells that include a proton-conducting polymer electrolyte membrane between the anode side and the cathode side, with hydrogen and oxygen reactions at catalyst surfaces, and with heat transfer provided near the gas channel inlets. 17. The system of claim 1 wherein the fuel cell stack outputs a potable water product. 18. A power generating system for operating below a surface of a body of water, the system comprising: a fuel cell stack configured to react hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity;an oxygen source configured to provide oxygen to the fuel cell stack; anda hydrogen source configured to provide hydrogen to the fuel cell stack;wherein the hydrogen source is at least partially submerged in water and incorporates a non-hydride metal alloy comprising a magnesium or aluminum base alloyed with nickel that reacts with water to produce hydrogen from the water, the reaction being catalyzed by sodium chloride in the water, and the metal alloy is contained in a reactor volume that allows unassisted entry of surrounding water, such that hydrogen gas produced in the reactor volume supplies the fuel cell stack at a hydrostatic pressure representing a depth of water contacting the metal alloy, a hydrogen volume defining a reactor water level and an amount of alloy surface being wetted by water, thereby controlling a rate of hydrogen generation to meet a rate of hydrogen consumption by the fuel cell stack in response to an electrical load demand;wherein the oxygen source provides oxygen to the fuel cell stack below the surface and comprises air flow from above the water surface, a portion of submerged air suitable for human breathing, and/or dissolved oxygen recovered from the surrounding water;wherein the fuel cell stack operates below the water surface and dissociates hydrogen from the hydrogen source at an anode side of the fuel cell stack into protons and electrons to produce an electric current, and the fuel cell stack recombines the hydrogen with dissociated oxygen from the oxygen source on a cathode side by reaction in a presence of an electrolyte, thereby producing water and heat; andwherein the fuel cell stack is cooled by heat conduction paths from high temperature regions of the fuel cell stack to the water surrounding the system,wherein hydrogen and oxygen are provided to the fuel cell stack in the absence of active pressure or flow controls, valves and/or regulators. 19. The system of claim 1 further comprising a floating buoy structure. 20. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is connected to a submerged application platform or user. 21. The system of claim 1, further comprising a connection line that is configured to transport gas and/or liquid to and/or from the system. 22. The system of claim 1, wherein heat from the fuel cell stack and/or from the metal alloy is transferred to the surrounding water and is utilized for warming a person in the water, for attracting fish in cold water, for inducing mechanical motion, and/or for warming to increase oxygen migration through the hydrophobic microporous hollow fiber membrane. 23. The system of claim 1, wherein the water is sea water and the sodium chloride in the water is a naturally occurring sea salt. 24. The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel cell stack comprises a planar fuel cell configuration having a plurality of planar cells arranged side-by-side substantially parallel to adjacent cells. 25. A power generating method for operating below a surface of a body of water using a system having a fuel cell stack configured to react hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, an oxygen source configured to provide oxygen to the fuel cell stack, and a hydrogen source configured to provide hydrogen to the fuel cell stack, the method comprising: submerging the hydrogen source at least partially in water;reacting the hydrogen source comprising a non-hydride metal alloy comprising a magnesium or aluminum base alloyed with nickel with water to produce hydrogen from the water, the reaction being catalyzed by sodium chloride, wherein the metal alloy is contained in a reactor volume that allows unassisted entry of surrounding water, such that hydrogen gas produced in the reactor volume supplies the fuel cell stack at a hydrostatic pressure representing a depth of water contacting the metal alloy, a hydrogen volume defining a reactor water level and an amount of alloy surface being wetted by water, thereby controlling a rate of hydrogen generation to meet a rate of hydrogen consumption by the fuel cell stack in response to an electrical load demand;providing the oxygen source to the fuel stack using air flow from above the water surface, a portion of submerged air suitable for human breathing, and/or dissolved oxygen recovered from the surrounding water;collecting a potable water source from the fuel cell stack when the fuel cell stack operates below the water surface and dissociates hydrogen from the hydrogen source at an anode side of the fuel cell into protons and electrons to produce an electric current, and the fuel cell stack recombines the hydrogen with dissociated oxygen from the oxygen source on a cathode side by reaction in a presence of an electrolyte, thereby producing water and heat; andcooling the fuel cell stack primarily by heat conduction paths from high temperature regions of the fuel cell stack to the water surrounding the fuel cells stack. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the fuel cell stack comprises a planar fuel cell configuration having a plurality of planar cells arranged side-by-side substantially parallel to adjacent cells.