New Woods Hole Manned Sub taking shape
 

I haven't been around here in awhile, but thought folks here would find this interesting.

http://www.whoi.edu/page.do?pid=11044

Construction of a replacement for the DSV Alvin. The new sub will be capable of going to 6500 meters and have a greater payload. The support ship will be the current Alvin one, the RV Atlantis (click the "ships", upper left on the linked page), an AGOR ship, sister to UW's Thomas G. Thompson and Scripp's Roger Revelle.

Since so many institutions have adopted ROV technology in place of manned subs, this could be the last of an era of manned deep sea vehicles.

Seeing what is required to allow a person to go to that depth show that the future is in ROV's. The fact they can stay down longer and not put life at risk is a big plus.

Cost and liability are the drive behind ROV's. But the NSF panel that decided whether or not to even build another manned sub agreed with the scientists. Bottom line is, there is still great value to having a knowledgable human being doing the direct observations. Indirectly, via video feeds and so forth, has limitations too. As do trying to manipulate instruments, collect delicate objects and so forth from a vehicle on a tether.

And as someone who's been down in Alvin, and done cruises with ROVs - ROV cruises are pretty bland and boring in comparison :D

I'm curious, Even though the sub is pressurized when going deep down their must be still a strange sensation or experience going very deep? Mind and body feeling against gravity's power. No?

Anyone here has some experience in this or close to this?:hmm:

I've been as deep as 3400m or so, and no noticeable sensations. Other then cold - you need to pack your woolies (you're sitting on foam pads, but there really isn't anything to keep the cold from transmitting through the sphere). There is some pressure build up from excess CO2 - just enough to make the hatch pop a bit when you surface.