About Rob Grafton Expertise I can offer help up to UK degree level and have access to the national oceanographic library in Southampton. My speciality areas are marine biology ecology and physiology although I have a good understanding of chemical oceanography and physical Oceanography.
Experience I studied and am continuing my studies of M MarBiol at the university of Southampton
Organizations University of Southampton (uk)
National Oceanography Centre Southampton (uk)
JMBUK member
Expert: Rob Grafton Date: 1/13/2008 Subject: submersibles
Question rob what do you think will happen in the future of submersibles
Answer lots has been happening in the world of ROV's (remotely operated vehicles) that i can see at university. not only are they becoming better, more versatile, able to collect more data and recently a submersible called autoSUB (worth looking up) has been surveying under the ice in the artic where we could not go before as we have no cables long enough and is impossible to get manned ones there safely for any length of time.
Manned submersibles are subject to extreme pressure at depth and in the surface waters it is more efficient to dive. there are some situations where manned ones are better, say areas difficult to manouver around but because of the advances in remote vehicles i do not see the advance of manned submersibles moving that far, as unmanned ones are safer, cheaper and you get better more complete data sets, (it doesnt have to go to sleep).
