Check out these videos and photos, which have been transmitted to the University of Delaware from the R/V Atlantis through the efforts of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Be sure to also visit Woods Hole’s Dive and Discover Web site. Take a unique and spectacular look through the pilot's viewport. Here you can see a large and thriving clump of Riftia tubeworms and the chemical sensor (the white wand held in Alvin's claw) that is measuring the chemistry of the vent fluids. Alvin's right arm is visible on the right side of the image as well as the edge of the pilot's circular viewport. Here's a close-up of the chemical sensor being pushed into a clump of Riftia tubeworms The sensor is disturbing the bacteria living around the tubeworms and in sediments, and it rises up as the white fluffy material seen in the video. Sunrise over the Sea of Cortés today, January 13. A pod of pilot whales comes to visit R/V Atlantis before Alvin is launched. Alison Sipe hosts the teleconference call between students and scientists in Alvin. While the submersible is on the seafloor, Martial Taillefert prepares the chemical sensors that will be used the following day. The Zodiac, the inflatable rubber boat used every day for Alvin launch and recovery, is tethered to the starboard of Atlantis waiting to be launched. The Zodiac is lowered into the water so that it can pick up the swimmers after they have finished preparing Alvin to dive. Phil Forte attaches the tail line to Alvin. This line and the main lift line behind himwill be used to lift Alvin off the deck and lower the sub into the water. Chief Scientist Craig Cary waves as he climbs into Alvin. Co-Chief Scientist George Luther heads for Alvin's hatch to climb into the sub. The A-frame lifts Alvin off the deck. The sub weighs over 16 tons, or more than 32,000 pounds, so the A-frame has to be very strong. The A-frame swings out over the stern of the ship; the person standing on Alvin is one of two swimmers who will remove the lift lines when it is in the water so that Alvin can be free of the ship. The A-frame is out as far as it can be, and now Alvin will be lowered into the water. Alvin surfaces in rough weather. A swimmer boards the sub to wait for a Zodiac to bring a towline. The Zodiac approaches Alvin towing a line that allows the ship to reel in the submarine. The sub approaches the stern of the ship. Two swimmers have to grab the lift lines hanging down from the A-frame and attach them to Alvin. The swimmers on Alvin attach the lift lines. As Alvin is hoisted up; the swimmers dive into the water to be picked up by the Zodiac. The A-frame lifts Alvin onboard. The Zodiac comes along side Atlantis to be brought aboard. George Luther comes down the boarding ladder after his dive in Alvin. Alvin pilot Bruce Strickrott is initiated after his first dive as a certified pilot. Bruce heads to the shower after his initiation. After Alvin returns to the hangar, scientists remove their equipment and samples and the Alvin crew makes repairs and prepare for tomorrow's dive. Scientists in the lab preparing the Sipper sampler, which is able to "sip" fluids from tiny spaces. Scientists adjusting the intake nozzle of the Sipper sampler (the black cylinder with numbers on it that Don Nuzzio is holding)   Liz McCliment installing the Sipper sampler on Alvin's basket.   Liz McCliment and Martial Taillefert installing the Sipper, which is behind the push corers.   Scientists are installing their equipment on Alvin's basket. The picture is taken looking through the bend in the manipulator arm which is used to collect samples and position equipment on the seafloor. The large cylinder on the top of the arm is the color TV camera.