The famous submersible, which was used to photograph the , returned to Bermuda this week in order to be re-certified.

This is the seventh time has been brought to Bermuda for re-certification. Every three years the submersible is completely rebuilt and the crew must have it re-certified before continuing with their scientific research. It is not doing any research here.was created in 1964 and was the first deep-sea submersible capable of carrying passengers. It is operated by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and kept aboard the research vessel . Numerous upgrades have been done over the years and it can now plunge to a maximum depth of 14,764 ft. Since it was created has been used by many scientists doing groundbreaking research.

In 1977, researchers used it to discover the first hydrothermal vents in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the Galapagos Islands.It has also allowed researchers to find and record about 300 new species of animals, including foot-long clams and mussels, arthropods and red-tipped tube worms that can grow up to 10 ft long in some vents. One of most famous dives happened in July of 1986. photographically documented the RMS Titanic during 12 dives. makes between 150 and 200 dives every year, but it?s not cheap to operate Scientists payapproximately $30,000 a day to use .

John Moore, vice president of marine operations at the Meyer Group of Companies, said that the crew finds Bermuda to be the optimum place to do the test dives.

?Bermuda is the chosen destination because of our close proximity to deep water,? he said. ?They have done a series of dives off the Island in shallow and deep water.?

He said the ship, along with will leave Bermuda on Sunday and is headed to Key West, Florida, to continue research there.