For years, the New York Zoological Society's Bathysphere stood near my home at the NY Aquarium in Coney Island. I dreamed one day I would get to see the ocean bottom.
Beebe and Barton
In 1934, Dr. Beebe and Mister Barton broke the world's deepest dive-record in the Bathysphere.
My Poor Kids
Dubno takes his beleaguered kids on a quest to find the original Bathysphere, in storage at the New York Aquarium. The Bathysphere will return to public display later this month.
Gumby Boy
On the R/V Atlantis, Dan Dubno dons an exposure suit during one of the frequent safety drills. The highly buoyant safety garb is called the "Gumby Suit" for obvious reasons.
Arm Check
Alvin pilot tests one of the titanium arms on the deep-sea submersible before another research dive on the Galapagos Rift site "Rosebud."
Alvin Deployed
Deep-sea submersible Alvin is lowered from its home on the Woods Hole Research Vessel Atlantis to explore the Galapagos.
Prepare to Dive!
Deep-submergence research vessel Alvin is launched from the R/V Atlantis, with divers aboard, before the descending to the bottom of the Galapagos Rift.
Alvin Divers
Divers of the Alvin team examine the collection tray before the sub descends to collect samples on the Galapagos Rift.
To The Bottom
Deep-ocean research submersible Alvin begins the one and a half-hour descent to the geothermal vents at the Galapagos Rift.
Diver Dan
Dan Dubno, trying vainly to be blase, at the bottom of the Galapagos Rift... almost two-miles down, inside the deep-submersible Alvin.
Deep Thinker
Principal Investigator Dr. Timothy Shank, happy as a giant clam, on the bottom of the Galapagos Rift in Alvin.
<i>Riftia Pachyptiya</i>
Close-up of Riftia, the giant tubeworm, chemosynthetically feeding off the highly-toxic bacteria at the geothermal vent sites in the Galapagos Rift.
<i>Riftia</i> Garden
A "garden" of Riftia, on the bottom of the Galapagos Rift, is mapped, catalogued, and studied by the biologists on the R/V Atlantis.
Spaghetti of the Deep
The Terebellid Worm, as seen under a microscope, with tentacles used to gather food. This worm was one of thousands of samples gathered from the ocean floor by Alvin pilots and scientists.
It's Alive!
Scientists Tim Shank and Susan Humphris, of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, learn a thing or two from the Jacques Cousteau of tomorrow, "Diver Dan" Dubno, about a live crab brought up from the ocean bottom. (Clearly, Dubno is delusional after his dive!)
Alvin and Atlantis
Deep-submersible Alvin and the WHOI Research Vessel Atlantis above the geothermal vents of the Galapagos Rift.
Pre-Crushed
A Styrofoam cup, painted by CBS News graphics artist and genius Ned Steinberg, of "Digital Dan" Dubno before his dive on the deep-submersible Alvin. Cups like these are crushed by the ocean and kept as souvenirs.
After Crushing
"Digital Dan" Dubno holding a crushed Styrofoam cup after it descended more than 8,000 feet to the bottom of the Galapagos Rift on Alvin. Cup celebrates the Boston Red Sox... a sentiment I don't share.
Bystanders
Near the Galapagos Rift, a booby and turtle float by, happily watching the crew on the Research Vessel Atlantis watching them back.
Getaway Boat
Our journey ends as the yacht Rachel bobs in the water, waiting to take us from the R/V Atlantis to the Galapagos Islands.