Describes the 1977 journey of the submersible ship Alvin, in which three explorers saw, for the first time, the strange marine life that dwells in hydrothermal vents and other mysteries of the deep sea. Inside the deep-diving submersible Alvin, three scientists peered out the portholes. Thousands of feet below the ocean's surface, Alvin continued its descent. Electric fans hummed and the green lights of the instrument dials glowed. Near a ridge on the sea floor, the crew spotted something in the searchlight! "Isn't the deep ocean supposed to be like a desert?" the pilot asked. "Yes," replied the controller. The surprised pilot said, "Well, there's all these animals down here." New forms of life had been discovered! Journey to the deepest reaches of the ocean to examine hydrothermal vents and the mysterious black smokers. Take a dive with Alvin and learn about Alvin's construction, the skillful pilots who control the sub, and the many advances it has made to further our knowledge of ocean life.