Technical Status and Development Trend of the Deep-sea Manned Submersible

Abstract

Deep-sea manned submersible not only had made outstanding contributions to the deep-sea knowledge accumulation in marine science society, but also had very sensational influence in military affairs.Since the manned submersible is capable to bring scientists to the bottom of the sea, therefore various observations and studies can be carried out in-situ, which circumstance can hardly be simulated in a laboratory. The manned submersible have been playing an increasingly important role in deep sea environment research, deep sea biological research, deep sea resource study, as well as in the emerging field of hadal ecological study. This article briefly reviews the development of the world famous deep-sea manned submersibles. Then analysis and comparisons of their technical specifications, diving practice of the most active 10 submersibles in the world are described. Finally,development trend of deep-sea manned submersibles is prospected.