Image

Taking the Leap

As steward of the research vessel Atlantis, Carl Wood is in charge of provisioning the ship, cooking meals, and overseeing the ship’s living spaces. He’s also a qualified Alvin swimmer, responsible for preparing the submersible for launch and recovery. At the end of a recovery, the swimmers leap from the sub into the water, where they are picked up by the ship’s small boat waiting below. Carl, shown here, is known to make his exit with just a bit more flair than others. Alvin had recently completed a test dive to its maximum rated depth of 4,500 meters. (Ken Kostel, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)