DSV Alvin is the deep-submergence vehicle operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution that has explored the wreck of the Titanic.
Alvin is not a military submarine but a crewed research submersible. It was named for Allyn Vine, a geophysicist and oceanographer who helped establish the research institution’s deep-sea program. The vehicle first entered service in 1964 and has completed thousands of dives.
In 1986, Alvin carried scientists to the Titanic wreck site after the wreck had been located by a joint American-French expedition. Its observations helped document the wreck’s condition and the surrounding deep-ocean environment.
Alvin has also supported biological, geological and oceanographic research, including studies around hydrothermal vents. Its maximum operating depth has increased through successive rebuilds, so descriptions of its capability should be tied to the specific version and date being discussed.