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Alvin’s First Family

August 9, 2012

After the original submersible Alvin was built in the 1960s, it was named for Allyn Vine, a leader in developing manned submersible vessels for exploring the deep sea. This summer Vine’s family members, including (from left) daughter Vivian Dreisbach, widow Adelaide Vine, and son Norman Vine, visited WHOI to see the old Alvin personnel sphere (on the left) along with the new one, delievered in June as part of Alvin’s overhaul. The old sphere, actually the second in the sub’s history, carried scientists on some of the most iconic dives in the deep ocean. The new sphere is designed to descend 2,000 meters deeper than its predecessor, to 6,500 meters (21,000 feet, or 4 miles). (Photo by Tom Kleindinst, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)