ROVs and HOVs
Trieste (Bathyscaphe)
The Trieste was the first submersible to carry humans to Challenger Deep, in the Mariana Trench, in 1960.
HOV Alvin
Deep Submergence Vehicles (DSVs) are human-occupied vehicles (HOVs) with specific depth ratings. They are piloted by a human on board.
ROV Hercules
Remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs) are operated by pilots on a ship and do not have passengers. They are connected to the ship via a cable and are not autonomous like AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicles).
HOVs
Trieste Bathyscaphe - 11,000 m
Trieste Bathyscaphe - 11,000 m
Trieste Bathyscaphe - 11,000 m
First to descend to Challenger Deep. Two passengers, Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh, became the first to dive to the deepest point on Earth in 1960.
Deepsea Challenger - 11,000m
Trieste Bathyscaphe - 11,000 m
Trieste Bathyscaphe - 11,000 m
The Deepsea Challenger also visited Challenger Deep with filmmaker James Cameron aboard in 2012.
Limiting Factor- 11,000 m
Trieste Bathyscaphe - 11,000 m
Limiting Factor- 11,000 m
The DSV Limiting Factor has been the go-to for exploring Challenger Deep since 2019.
Jiaolong - 7,000 m
HOV Alvin - 6,500 m
Limiting Factor- 11,000 m
The DSV Jiaolong is owned by China
Shinkai - 6,500 m
HOV Alvin - 6,500 m
HOV Alvin - 6,500 m
The Shinkai is owned by JAMSTEC in Japan.
HOV Alvin - 6,500 m
HOV Alvin - 6,500 m
HOV Alvin - 6,500 m
The Alvin submersible is owned by the U.S. Navy and operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).
Nautile - 6,000 m
Mir 1 & 2 - 6,000 m
Mir 1 & 2 - 6,000 m
The Nautile is owned by France.
Mir 1 & 2 - 6,000 m
Mir 1 & 2 - 6,000 m
Mir 1 & 2 - 6,000 m
The Mir submersibles are owned by Russia.
ROV Examples
ROV Jason
ROV SuBastian
ROV SuBastian
ROV Jason is operated by WHOI.
ROV SuBastian
ROV SuBastian
ROV SuBastian
ROV SuBastian is operated by the Schmidt Ocean Institute.
ROV Hercules
ROV SuBastian
ROV Hercules
The ROV Hercules is operated by the Ocean Exploration Trust.