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Atlantis II

Atlantis II arrived at WHOI in 1963 and made immediate, if unexpected, headlines. Its second voyage, intended to be a routine biology cruise, was interrupted with the news that the U.S. nuclear submarine Thresher had sunk east of Cape Cod. Atlantis II collected the first photographs of the sub’s remains, and subsequently received a commendation from the U.S. Navy. In 1984, engineers reconfigured Atlantis II to support the submersible Alvin. Two years later, the vessel made news again when it brought Alvin for dives to study the wreckage of the Titanic. More photos of WHOI vessels, past and present, are featured in the 2012 WHOI wall calendar. (Photo courtesy of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Archives)