Submersible "Alvin" has been traversing the world's oceans for half a century revealing mysteries of the deep. Alvin remains at the forefront of marine research, having undergone several complete reconstructions over the decades. Here is the story of its 50-year career.
Alvin: 50 years of undersea adventures —
Submersible "Alvin" has been traversing the world's oceans for half a century revealing mysteries of the deep. Alvin remains at the forefront of marine research, having undergone several complete reconstructions over the decades. Here is the story of its 50-year career.
Courtesy Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution/Chris Linder
The sub is named in honor of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) scientist Allyn Vine, who pushed tirelessly in the '50s to turn the idea of a deep-sea submersible into a reality. The manned deep submergence vehicle was finally commissioned on June 5, 1964, pictured.
Alvin: 50 years of undersea adventures —
The sub is named in honor of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) scientist Allyn Vine, who pushed tirelessly in the '50s to turn the idea of a deep-sea submersible into a reality. The manned deep submergence vehicle was finally commissioned on June 5, 1964, pictured.
Photo courtesy Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Archives.
An unexploded atomic bomb was accidentally dropped in the Mediterranean sea in 1966, when an Air Force B-52 collided with a tanker plane off the coast of Palomares, Spain. Alvin is pictured being loaded onto a plane at Otis Air Base to join the hunt for the missing H-bomb, which it eventually found.
Alvin: 50 years of undersea adventures —
An unexploded atomic bomb was accidentally dropped in the Mediterranean sea in 1966, when an Air Force B-52 collided with a tanker plane off the coast of Palomares, Spain. Alvin is pictured being loaded onto a plane at Otis Air Base to join the hunt for the missing H-bomb, which it eventually found.
Photo courtesy Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Archives.
In October 1968, Alvin's cradle support cables snapped during the launch of a dive and it sank 5,000 feet to the bottom of the sea. It wouldn't be recovered until the following year.
Alvin: 50 years of undersea adventures —
In October 1968, Alvin's cradle support cables snapped during the launch of a dive and it sank 5,000 feet to the bottom of the sea. It wouldn't be recovered until the following year.
Photo courtesy Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Archives.
Despite being submerged for the best part a year, the team noted little structural damage to the sub. In fact, the lunches that had been left on board when the crew made a hasty escape were found to be soggy but still edible. Alvin underwent a significant refit, pictured, following the sinking and wouldn't return to the water until May 1971.
Alvin: 50 years of undersea adventures —
Despite being submerged for the best part a year, the team noted little structural damage to the sub. In fact, the lunches that had been left on board when the crew made a hasty escape were found to be soggy but still edible. Alvin underwent a significant refit, pictured, following the sinking and wouldn't return to the water until May 1971.
Photo courtesy Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Archives.
An aerial view of Alvin along with R/V Knorr and Lulu during the French-American Mid-Ocean Undersea Study -- better known as Project FAMOUS in 1974. The study was the first opportunity for a intense examination of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, when scientists were able to confirm a theory that the seafloor was spreading.
Alvin: 50 years of undersea adventures —
An aerial view of Alvin along with R/V Knorr and Lulu during the French-American Mid-Ocean Undersea Study -- better known as Project FAMOUS in 1974. The study was the first opportunity for a intense examination of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, when scientists were able to confirm a theory that the seafloor was spreading.
Photo courtesy Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Archives.
In July 1986, Alvin dived 12 times on the shipwreck of RMS Titanic, pictured.
Alvin: 50 years of undersea adventures —
In July 1986, Alvin dived 12 times on the shipwreck of RMS Titanic, pictured.
Photo courtesy Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Archives.
For the Titanic dives, a prototype Remotely Operated Vehicle called "Jason Jr." was deployed to photograph the wreck. Here you can see Jason Jr. peering into the stateroom on the Titanic.
Alvin: 50 years of undersea adventures —
For the Titanic dives, a prototype Remotely Operated Vehicle called "Jason Jr." was deployed to photograph the wreck. Here you can see Jason Jr. peering into the stateroom on the Titanic.
Photo courtesy Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Archives.
Alvin has two hydraulically powered robotic arms used by the pilot for deploying scientific equipment and collecting samples. Here it can be seen probing tube worms on the bottom of the East Pacific Rise. Tube worm communities form around hydrothermal vents -- an area that previously was believed to be inhospitable to any lifeforms due to toxic chemicals and high pressure -- until scientists spotted the marine organisms during dives off the Galapagos Islands in the '70s.
Alvin: 50 years of undersea adventures —
Alvin has two hydraulically powered robotic arms used by the pilot for deploying scientific equipment and collecting samples. Here it can be seen probing tube worms on the bottom of the East Pacific Rise. Tube worm communities form around hydrothermal vents -- an area that previously was believed to be inhospitable to any lifeforms due to toxic chemicals and high pressure -- until scientists spotted the marine organisms during dives off the Galapagos Islands in the '70s.
Photo courtesy of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Throughout the years, Alvin has been faithfully assisted at sea by its support vessels. Since 1997, R/V Atlantis, pictured here lowering Alvin into the Gulf of Mexico, has been carrying the different crews to various locations around the world.
Alvin: 50 years of undersea adventures —
Throughout the years, Alvin has been faithfully assisted at sea by its support vessels. Since 1997, R/V Atlantis, pictured here lowering Alvin into the Gulf of Mexico, has been carrying the different crews to various locations around the world.
Photo courtesy Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution/Chris Linder
On every dive, scientists gather samples for analysis, doing as much as possible to avoid affecting the ocean environment. However, sometimes the locals can get nosy -- as was the case when Alvin got up close and personal with a deep-sea octopus 2,300 meters down in the Gulf of Mexico. It grabbed the sub's robotic arm to undertake a quick investigation of its own.
Alvin: 50 years of undersea adventures —
On every dive, scientists gather samples for analysis, doing as much as possible to avoid affecting the ocean environment. However, sometimes the locals can get nosy -- as was the case when Alvin got up close and personal with a deep-sea octopus 2,300 meters down in the Gulf of Mexico. It grabbed the sub's robotic arm to undertake a quick investigation of its own.
Photo courtesy Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
The sub is totally disassembled every three to five years and upgraded to ensure it remains a powerful research tool. Alvin's most recent extensive refit saw new features including a larger personnel sphere, two new viewports (now a total of five), new lighting and HD imaging capabilities.
Alvin: 50 years of undersea adventures —
The sub is totally disassembled every three to five years and upgraded to ensure it remains a powerful research tool. Alvin's most recent extensive refit saw new features including a larger personnel sphere, two new viewports (now a total of five), new lighting and HD imaging capabilities.
Photo by Bruce Strickrott/WHOI/Courtesy Peter Girguis, chief scientist Harvard, Funding agencies : NSF, ONR, NOAA