Researcher Sue Wieber Nourse Exits Nekton Beta
Turtle Journal co-founder Sue Wieber Nourse is a noted adventurer, researcher, scientist, author and educator. We recently rediscovered documentary photographs of Sue’s exploits as a young scientist in Woods Hole when she became one of the first women to plunge to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean in the submersible Nekton Beta. How does a young USGS biologist get that privilege? Well, when the research vessel reached its ocean target in the midst of a North Atlantic storm, and when all the seasoned scientists turned thumbs down on what they perceived as a recklessly dangerous dive, who you gonna call? That’s right: the newly minted USGS scientist with adventurous attitude and indominable spirit!
Submersible Nekton Beta
Yep. She dove to the bottom of the Atlantic in this classic, early model research submersible pictured in the 1973 NOAA photograph above. Her mission was to document the benthic habitat off Georges Bank, which she did with an innovative photographic system. The Nekton Beta dives supplemented her photography through direct observation. According to “Manned Submersibles” by R. Frank Busby, the Nekton Beta measured 15.5 feet long, 5 feet wide and 6 feet high. It weighed 2.35 tons with a hatch diameter of 18 inches and maximum life support of 48-man hours. It had a two-person crew of pilot and observer, a payload of 450 pounds, and a cruise speed of 1.5 knots for 3.5 hours or maximum speed of 2.5 knots for 1 hour. Built by General Oceanographics, the Nekton Beta sported 17 acrylic plastic viewports with 6.5 inch diameter and 1.25 inches thickness.