Alvin (
DSV-2) is a manned deep-ocean research
submersible owned by the
United States Navy and operated by the
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in
Woods Hole, Massachusetts. The vehicle was built by
General Mills' Electronics Group in
Minneapolis, Minnesota. Named to honor the prime mover and creative inspiration for the vehicle,
Allyn Vine,
Alvin was commissioned on 5 June 1964. The submersible is launched from the deep submergence support vessel , which is also owned by the U.S. Navy and operated by WHOI. The submersible has made more than 4,400 dives, carrying two scientists and a pilot, to observe the lifeforms that must cope with super-pressures and move about in total darkness, as well as exploring the
wreck of Titanic. Research conducted by
Alvin has been featured in nearly 2,000 scientific papers.