Explore Our History

The Great Leap Downward

Dr. Bruce Robison and two other marine biologists conduct the first-ever biological expedition into Monterey Bay's submarine canyon onboard Deep Rover, a one-person submersible. A plastic sphere with a pilot sitting inside, it offers a 360-degree field of view.

One journalist likens the effort to "a daring exploration of the Grand Canyon by a small one-person helicopter, operating in a blizzard at night with lights that penetrate only 15 to 20 feet."

The Aquarium's Role

In a project funded by the Aquarium, Sea Studios, an independent video production facility, works in concert with the Deep Rover team. Hours of tapes brought back from the dives reveal an array of strange creatures, mostly small but often spectacular in appearance. Scientists confirm that the amount and variety of deep-sea life exceed what was previously thought—by 10 times or more.

Committed to the Deep

The dives help spark David Packard's interest in further exploring the deep ocean in Monterey Bay and beyond. In June 1986, the Aquarium's Board of Directors commits $10 million for a five-year research program focusing on Monterey Bay's submarine canyon. The intensive study involves deep-sea researchers from the fields of biology, geology, physical oceanography and engineering.