The West Coast & Polar Regions Undersea Research Center leases undersea systems as needed for approved projects, sometimes with a support vessel.  Characteristics and capabilities for several of the occupied submersibles, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) currently available to the Center are described below and on linked pages.

• Occupied Submersibles:  The Center has primarily relied on Delta submersible for shallow diving (to 365 m), and Alvin for deeper diving (to 4500 m).  Other occupied submersibles operating in the Center’s region may be considered if they meet the necessary safety requirements.
  
  
• Remotely Operated Vehicles: Both shallow and deep water ROVs are available to the center.  Depth capability and instrumetation can be matched to the project.
  
  
• Autonomous Underwater Vehicles:  As with submersibles and ROVs, AUVs have a range of depth, speed, endurance, and sensing capabilities.  The Center can lease AUVs specialized for seafloor mapping, imaging, and/or water column sensing. 
  
  
• Scuba and Nitrox Wet Diving: The Center supports scuba throughout its region and Enriched Air Nitrox (EAN) wet diving at some locations. Nitrox diving provides longer bottom times and therefore more efficient data collection and use of resources in the scuba diving depth range with the same safety as air diving. Please contact the Center before preparing a nitrox diving proposal. A major cold-water diving program is located at the Kasitsna Bay Laboratory, which is owned by NOAA and operated jointly with the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

• Mapping and sonar systems: Under limited circumstances, the Center may lease or support the use of sonar systems such as multibeam and side-scan sonar mapping systems or midwater acoustic imaging systems.  PIs are urged to contact the Center to determine whether a request would qualify for Center funding.

For more information contact:

WC&PRURC
PO Box 757220
209 O'Neill, UAF
Fairbanks, AK 99775
907.474.5870 phone
907.474.5804 fax
Email WC&PRURC
www.westnurc.uaf.edu