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Almost Home

February 28, 2014

Peter Leonard, chief mate on the research vessel Atlantis, aided in a late-day recovery of the submersible Alvin during one of 14 certification dives in November near the coast of Southern California. Leonard is among qualified “swimmers” who assist with the launch and recovery of Alvin, which is back in the water after a three-year major overhaul and upgrade. During the dives, the Alvin operations team, along with observers from the U.S. Navy, took the submersible to progressively greater depths to prove that all of its systems are safe for operation. Alvin will return to full service to marine science this spring.(Photo by Rod Catanach, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)