to be able to send human beings to the sea floor in order that they have the
possibility to observe and sample. This can be achieved with the use of modern
technology, which has the capacity of allowing human eyes to observe and record
data from the sea floor and so we can then place this information in a global,
geographical context.
Bathyscaphes
During the first half of the last century, bathyscaphes were used for exploration of the
great deeps and were the only engines that could attain all the depths of the oceans
without imploding under the pressure found at the bottom of the seas. A bathyscaphe
descends because of the pull of gravity and rises by releasing weights. In 1934, the
architect Guillaume DeVos drafted a project for a ‘‘sort of bathyscaphe’’ that he
called ‘‘Aquastat’’. However it was in 1946 that Auguste Piccard, working in Belgium, designed the first bathyscaphe called FNRS 2 after the name of the funding
agency which paid for its construction: ‘‘Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique’’ (the National Science Research Foundation of Belgium). The vessel was
finally built and ready to use in 1948. In 1950, Auguste Piccard and his son Jacques
constructed another bathescaphe named ‘‘Trieste’’ with cooperation from the Italian
Navy. The Trieste went to sea in 1953 and made several dives at relatively shallow
depths (\4,000 m). With the idea of attaining the deepest parts of the ocean floor, the
US Navy purchased the Trieste in 1958 and then made it available to the scientific
community. On January 29, 1960, the Trieste, with Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard
on board, broke a diving record when they descended to 10,912 m deep in the
Mariana Trough located in the western Pacific. For the first time at that depth, divers
observed a sedimented bottom and the presence of fish. This was proof that Life
exists at all depths in the sea.
Archimède
In 1955, the French Navy, the CNRS (Centre National de Recherche Scientifique
of France) and the FNRS (the National Science Research Foundation of Belgium)
built a bathyscaph first called the ‘‘B 11000’’, and later renamed ‘‘Archimède’’
(Photo 3.2). Because of its weight and the difficulties encountered in lifting this
engine, Archimède could only be transported by being towed by a support ship.
The French navy ship Marcel Le Bihan (1200 tons, 72 m long) named after a
French pilot of World War II was used to tow the Archimède (Jarry 2003).
The sphere of the French bathyscaphe was built in Belgium. Archimède weighs
200 tons in water and uses 162,000 l of kerosene (having a density 0.67) as its
liquid for floatability. Achimède is propelled by 20 HP electric engines with
110-volt batteries that are protected from seawater in storage tanks filled with oil.
Early Underwater Exploration
59
possibility to observe and sample. This can be achieved with the use of modern
technology, which has the capacity of allowing human eyes to observe and record
data from the sea floor and so we can then place this information in a global,
geographical context.
Bathyscaphes
During the first half of the last century, bathyscaphes were used for exploration of the
great deeps and were the only engines that could attain all the depths of the oceans
without imploding under the pressure found at the bottom of the seas. A bathyscaphe
descends because of the pull of gravity and rises by releasing weights. In 1934, the
architect Guillaume DeVos drafted a project for a ‘‘sort of bathyscaphe’’ that he
called ‘‘Aquastat’’. However it was in 1946 that Auguste Piccard, working in Belgium, designed the first bathyscaphe called FNRS 2 after the name of the funding
agency which paid for its construction: ‘‘Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique’’ (the National Science Research Foundation of Belgium). The vessel was
finally built and ready to use in 1948. In 1950, Auguste Piccard and his son Jacques
constructed another bathescaphe named ‘‘Trieste’’ with cooperation from the Italian
Navy. The Trieste went to sea in 1953 and made several dives at relatively shallow
depths (\4,000 m). With the idea of attaining the deepest parts of the ocean floor, the
US Navy purchased the Trieste in 1958 and then made it available to the scientific
community. On January 29, 1960, the Trieste, with Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard
on board, broke a diving record when they descended to 10,912 m deep in the
Mariana Trough located in the western Pacific. For the first time at that depth, divers
observed a sedimented bottom and the presence of fish. This was proof that Life
exists at all depths in the sea.
Archimède
In 1955, the French Navy, the CNRS (Centre National de Recherche Scientifique
of France) and the FNRS (the National Science Research Foundation of Belgium)
built a bathyscaph first called the ‘‘B 11000’’, and later renamed ‘‘Archimède’’
(Photo 3.2). Because of its weight and the difficulties encountered in lifting this
engine, Archimède could only be transported by being towed by a support ship.
The French navy ship Marcel Le Bihan (1200 tons, 72 m long) named after a
French pilot of World War II was used to tow the Archimède (Jarry 2003).
The sphere of the French bathyscaphe was built in Belgium. Archimède weighs
200 tons in water and uses 162,000 l of kerosene (having a density 0.67) as its
liquid for floatability. Achimède is propelled by 20 HP electric engines with
110-volt batteries that are protected from seawater in storage tanks filled with oil.
Early Underwater Exploration
59