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Johnson Sea-Link II being recovered after
diving on Oceanographer Canyon
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Within
the scientific community, the use of Human Occupied Vehicles (HOVs) became a proven commodity after
initial skepticism in the 1960s. After some early discoveries and successes, like the work conducted
during project FAMOUS (French-American Mid-Ocean ridge Study), the occupied submersible was the
platform of choice for working at small spatial scales on the seafloor and in the midwater. The
attributes of the HOV that made and make them invaluable contributors to underwater exploration and
research include their ability to take humans directly to the underwater world, their significant
payload capability to emplace experiments into the underwater world and bring back a number of
samples. Finally they typically they have a modular, flexible design that can support a number of
sampling systems.
Human occupied vehicles (HOVs) initially provided the backbone for our research program in the mid
1980s through the mid 1990s. New and unique sampling systems were developed to conduct innovative
research underwater, such as geochemical samplers for contaminant studies and structured light systems
to quantify zooplankton distribution using underwater video.
In keeping with its policy of matching the most appropriate vehicle to meet the sampling requirements
of the scientist, NURC-NA&GL has leased a number of HOVs. Over the past 20 years we have utilized the
Mermaid, Clelia,
Delta, and the
Johnson-Sea-Link occupied
submersible systems. We have also collaborated with other groups within NOAA in supporting projects
using Alvin
(Ocean Exploration) and the Deepworker
2000 submersibles (NUYTCO). The U.S. Navy has made their nuclear research submarine NR-1 available
to the civilian science community through a Memorandum of Understanding with NURP and NURC NAGL has
aided cruise planning and coordination.
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