The Fascinating World of Submersibles

Submersibles are vehicles that are designed to travel underwater. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they are used for a wide range of purposes, including exploration, research, and transportation.

One of the most famous submersibles is the Deepsea Challenger, which was used by filmmaker James Cameron to make the first solo dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in 2012. The Deepsea Challenger is a small, single-person submersible that is equipped with a variety of scientific instruments.

Another well-known submersible is the Alvin, which has been used by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for over 50 years. The Alvin is a two-person submersible that is equipped with a variety of cameras and sampling devices. It has been used to explore some of the most remote and inaccessible parts of the ocean, including the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the Galapagos Rift.

Submersibles are also used for a variety of commercial purposes. For example, they are used to inspect underwater infrastructure, such as oil pipelines and power cables. They are also used to recover sunken ships and other objects.

The development of submersibles has opened up a whole new world of exploration and research. They have allowed scientists to study the ocean in unprecedented detail, and they have helped us to better understand the Earth's history and its marine ecosystems.

Here are some of the most interesting facts about submersibles:

• The first submersible was invented in 1776 by David Bushnell. It was called the Turtle, and it was used to try to sink a British warship during the American Revolutionary War.
• The deepest dive ever made by a submersible was by the Limiting Factor in 2019. It reached a depth of 10,928 meters (36,037 feet) in the Mariana Trench.
• The largest submersible ever built is the Argo. It is a Russian submersible that is used for deep-sea exploration. It is 73 meters (240 feet) long and weighs 2,000 tons.
• The most expensive submersible ever built is the Nereus. It was built by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and it cost $80 million.

Submersibles are a fascinating and versatile technology. They have opened up a new world of exploration and research, and they continue to play an important role in our understanding of the ocean.

What do you think is the most interesting thing about submersibles?

Source: Conversation with Bard

#bard #submersibles

I’d say today one could make the argument that the Titan submersible is the most famous, but not totally for what it can do, but because of its current circumstances. Hopefully it will be found with all those aboard safe and sound.

Would you travel thousands of feet under water in one?