Sea Trials

John Dymek and Rose Wall load a predetermined number of dive weights onto Alvin—something that can only be done once the sub is partly rolled out of its hangar. (Photo by Ken Kostel, ©Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) New Chief Engineer Sean Holmes watches the procedure for putting Alvin in the water from the ship’s Dog…

Alvin passed another critical milestone yesterday with its first untethered post-overhaul dives.

Alvin completes incline test, paving the way for open ocean dives. How simulated dives debug Alvin’s software before actual dives take place.

Alvin finishes in-water tests of electrical and mechanical systems and dives briefly to test the variable ballast system.

Alvin began its road back to diving with a test of its buoyancy.

Atlantis left Woods Hole around 2:45 yesterday with a storm building across our path to Bermuda, so we’ve taken a westerly course parallel to the coast with plans to turn 90 degrees left this afternoon and make a beeline across the Gulf Stream. That should allow us to miss the worst of what was in…

Alvin pilot Danik Forsman (right) was joined by pilots-in-training Nick Osadcia and Kaitlyn Beardshear for a simulated dive on emergency air during the sub’s ongoing sea trials. (Photo by Ken Kostel © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) Atlantis hasn’t left the dock in Woods Hole yet and Alvin hasn’t touched the water since the completion of…