Oceans: Flying Underwater

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Proceedings Magazine - July 2009 Vol. 135/7/1,277 [3]

By Don Walsh

For nearly 50 years, conventional manned deep submersibles have operated on the principle of a free balloon or blimp (powered balloon). Buoyancy is normally provided by a plastic matrix material

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Don Walsh [5]

Dr. Walsh is neither marine archaeologist nor treasure hunter. He has spent the past four decades involved with design, manufacture, and operation of submersible systems. A retired naval officer (submarines) he was designated U.S. Navy deep submersible pilot #1 in the early 1970s. During 2001, in addition to Atlantic Sands, hehas participated in diving operations at the battleship Bismarck (16,000 feet) and RMS Titanic (12,500 feet). On 20 July 2001, he had lunch on board the Titanic, when the Mir 2 landed on the bridge so the sub crew could eat.

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