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Alvin’s Legacy Runs Deep

On June 5, 1964, the Human Occupied Vehicle Alvin was commissioned at the WHOI dock, in a ceremony attended by hundreds eagerly anticipating what the submersible would accomplish over its now 52-year career. Leading the charge to develop the sub was WHOI scientist Allyn Vine, who saw the need for a vehicle that could explore ocean depths beyond the upper most layers. What Vine referred to as an “exciting last frontier” ultimately became Alvin‘s proving grounds, as Vine’s namesake has been instrumental in the discovery of hydrothermal vents, exploration of the remains of the RMS Titanic, and identification of a multitude of previously unknown species.(Photo courtesy of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Archives)