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Prepare to Dive

Alvin, the nation’s only deep-sea research submersible, underwent an extensive upgrade between 2011 and 2014. In March 2014, scientists and engineers tested the new sub in a series of dives under real field conditions in the Gulf of Mexico. Alvin pilots Bob Waters (left) and Jefferson Grau guide operations on the fantail of the research vessel Atlantis as Alvin is deployed. Atop Alvin are “swimmers” Raul Martinez and Allison Heater, who will finish dive preparations once the sub is in water. In June, Alvin will return to the Gulf of Mexico to an area near the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. (Photo by Chris Linder, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)