First published 1997
The ocean depths harbor countless species that humans have barely glimpsed. Scientists now venture into this alien world using military technologies released after the Cold War ended. Pulitzer Prize winner William Broad examines this surge of deep sea exploration and discovery. He joined researchers on a two week expedition off the Oregon and Washington coasts in 1993. The team traveled 250 miles offshore on the 210 foot vessel Atlantis II to study the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Each day the ship lowered three crew members 1.5 miles down in Alvin, a 25 foot submersible. Broad takes readers on dives to the Azores, the Titanic, and volcanic vents where bizarre creatures thrive. The abyss contains perhaps ten times more species than exist on land, plus millions of lost artworks and treasures. Yet humans have seen only a tiny fraction of this realm of crushing pressure and eternal darkness. The book reveals how former military surveillance tools now power civilian research, while also exposing new dangers including radioactive debris and ecological threats.
Genres: science, adventure, non-fiction, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: exploration, scientific-expedition
Setting: Oregon, Washington, Azores, Titanic, Juan de Fuca Ridge
Period: 1993
432 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster