Skip to content

The Workhorse of the Deep

Over its 53-year history, the deep submersible Alvin has had some subtle and not-so-subtle changes made to its appearance. The original sub, shown in the late 1960s with support vessel Lulu, was stubby and had a white sail. Its stainless steel hull was replaced with a titanium personnel sphere in 1973, enabling dives to greater depths. In the 1980s, its sail was painted a distinctive red, making it easier to spot at the ocean surface, and its rear propeller was replaced with thrusters. Many more improvements were made over the years, and, in 2013, a major upgrade included installation of a new, larger, deeper-diving titanium sphere and new flotation, giving Alvin even better research capabilities and a sleeker look. (Photo by Cliff Hinton, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Image Credit: Unknown
Date: January 28, 2018
Download
The Workhorse of the Deep
SEARCH RELATED TOPICS: Ocean Tech / Underwater Vehicles / Alvin

Image and Visual Licensing

WHOI copyright digital assets (stills and video) contained on this website can be licensed for non-commercial use upon request and approval. Please contact WHOI Digital Assets at images@whoi.edu or (508) 289-2647.

Scroll To Top