Going Down

You climb the stairs on the side of the A-frame to the top of Alvin and then down a narrow ladder through the submersible's hatch, trying not to step on the head and arms of the pilot. You sit on the floor of the pressure sphere, which is only six feet in diameter, then crouch to one side so the other scientist can get in. The crew has already stowed your bag containing warm clothes and a notebook. The pilot radios the ship's bridge to say, "Closing the hatch."

Alvin diving

The A-frame lifts Alvin off the deck of the ship and you are over open water. You hear the winch grumbling as you slowly descend. Ten seconds later, you splash down. Water gurgles over the view ports. You see swimmers working outside, checking everything before the submersible dives. Inside, it is a little warm, but it will get cooler as you descend. It is noisy due to the whirring of motors and the scrubber, which forces the air in Alvin through a filter to remove the carbon dioxide.

The submersible gently rolls in the calm water as the pilot picks up the CB microphone and requests permission to dive. A few seconds later, permission is granted. "Alvin diving," the pilot announces.

Ten minutes later, you notice that it is getting dark outside the view port. At about 400 meters depth (1,312 feet), the water appears pitch black. You are now entering the deep, dark ocean. It's getting cold, so you put on your sweatshirt, sweatpants and wool socks while trying not to kick the other observer or the pilot. You put your nose up to the plastic view port. Suddenly you see a burst of light and what appears to be a long string of slimy stuff slipping out of view. A gelatinous, bioluminescent animal has just spattered against your view port.

Two hours pass. The pilot turns on the outside lights and informs you that you are only 200 meters from the bottom. You ready your pen and tape recorder. "Bottom in sight," the other observer calls. The pilot releases two of the 208-pound descent weights and adjusts the buoyancy until Alvin "floats" just above the seafloor. All is ready for another day of exploration on the ocean floor.

Courtesy Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. For more information, see www.whoi.edu.