Submersibles Through Time
Mir I and II (1987)
Slow-moving and battery-operated, the Mir I and II are
nevertheless two of the deepest-diving vessels in the world. Able to
descend nearly 20,000 feet, they can access up to 98 percent of the
world's oceans, making them ideal for everything from research to
underwater filmmaking. In fact, director James Cameron took
advantage of the submersibles' 5,000-watt lights when filming his
blockbuster movie Titanic. Despite stretching over 25 feet
long, each Mir has a personal sphere just seven feet in
diameter for her three-person crew.