In the quest to explore the ocean's depths, a number of novel diving suits and chambers have been developed to enable aquanauts to work in the tremendous pressure, extreme cold, and darkness of the deep. For a fascinating look at some of the major developments in deep-sea technology,

University of Delaware scientist Eric Wommack prepares the Large Volume Water Sampler. Its purpose is to collect large amounts of water from vent sites. The water will then be filtered in an attempt to capture marine viruses. Why would anyone want to "catch" a marine virus? Find out here.

Discover the wonders of the deep— take a tour of the seafloor in Alvin!

Copyright University of Delaware, Oct. 2002