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First-Row Seats on the Seafloor
From: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
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| Giant tubeworm found by ALVIN. | |
 tiny submersible by the name of Alvin is bringing people closer to reaching the 20,000-leagues-deep dream, and is bringing the seafloor to surface dwellers to let us probe its secrets. Under the masterful navigation of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Alvin's endeavors since its first dive, in 1966, rival the most adventurous traveler's for awe-inspiring acts of courage and feats of discovery, including discovering the drowned remains of Titanic. |
For those who seek adventure from the safety of their own homes, Alvin's exploits have been
brought online for vicarious enjoyment at Deep Submergence Vehicle Alvin (www.marine.whoi.edu/ships/Alvin/Alvin.htm). The oceanographers at Woods Hole have charted every one of Alvin's years at sea, documenting its battle with an angry swordfish in 1967, its discovery of extreme animal life around hot ocean-floor vents in 1977, and its studies of whales and deep-sea fauna throughout the 1990s. Alvin has captured artifacts from the seafloor and videotaped its discoveries, which can be viewed through the site. And for those not content to explore the deep vicariously, Woods Hole provides diagrams of the submersible vessel and the complete text of Alvin's user manual. |
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| Diver seen from one of ALVIN's portholes. | |
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