Alvin in the Gulf of Mexico–And Beyond

The human-occupied vehicle Alvin traveled to the Gulf of Mexico in late 2010, where it made its final series of dives before undergoing an 18-month upgrade. Far from sailing into the sunset, this stalwart of the deep-ocean research community will improve significantly because of the upgrades, which include a larger personnel sphere, more (and larger) viewports, and improved imaging systems. Alvin is scheduled to return to service in mid-2012. Viewers can follow the progress of the upgrade on WHOI’s web site. (Photo by Ken Kostel, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)