Legendary UH submersible Pisces V begins new chapter at Bishop Museum

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After nearly four decades of uncovering historic mysteries of the Pacific Ocean, the deep-sea submersiblePisces V is embarking on a new journey on land. The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa donated the legendary three-person research vessel to the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, ensuring that its legacy of deep-ocean exploration, volcanic research and historic maritime discoveries will be preserved for generations to come.

"The donation ensures the submersible's storied past will be celebrated and shared with museum visitors from Hawai'i and around the world," said Chip Fletcher, dean of the UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, home of the Hawaiʻi Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL).

HURL operated Pisces V along with its sister submersible, Pisces IV, for decades. However, after years in storage with no prospect of federal funding for refurbishment or redeployment, UH made the decision to entrust the historic craft to the museum.

Unmatched discoveries across the Pacific

In 1985, UH acquired Pisces V, anchoring HURL's growing undersea capabilities. Its unique maneuverability, size and depth range, operating at depths up to 6,500 feet, made it the ideal platform for navigating complex terrain and gracefully exploring delicate ecosystems.

"Operating as the only U.S. deep submergence facility based in the Pacific Rim, HURL's work with Pisces V revolutionized oceanography across several fronts," said Terry Kerby, veteran Pisces V pilot and HURL operations director. "The submersibles were fine-tuned to adapt to the demands of operating effectively in the wide range of terrain and conditions of undersea volcanoes, seamounts in Papahānaumokuākea and beyond, maritime heritage site surveys, salvage operations of lost instruments and vehicles, and decades of pipeline support for the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai'i Authority cold water pipe systems. It is exciting to see the Pisces V and this legacy preserved at the Bishop Museum."

Close to home, Pisces V, enabled unprecedented exploration of the seamounts and coral reefs of the Main and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The submersible made more dives on Hawaiʻi's active underwater volcano, Kamaʻehuakanaloa (previously known as Lōʻihi Seamount), than any other submersible. HURL submersibles also pioneered research on mesophotic and deep-sea coral reefs off Maui and throughout the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, conducting vital impact assessments on commercial fishing damage.

Throughout the Pacific basin, the submersible ferried teams of researchers on voyages of discovery to places no human had seen before. In 2005, Pisces V embarked on a five-month expedition across the Pacific, exploring active submarine volcanoes along the Kermadec Arc near New Zealand.

"Each of these dives were unique, each different," Kerby shared. "We discovered multiple new species and by combining submersible operations with human divers, we explored deep-sea coral ecosystems in a new way."

Under Kerby's piloting, Pisces V unlocked famous historical mysteries on the ocean floor. Highlights include locating the Japanese midget submarine sunk by the USS Ward hours before the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, as well as locating massive World War II Japanese aircraft-carrying submarinesI-400,I-401, and I-14 off Oʻahu.

Preserving a legacy at Bishop Museum

Though HURL's operations changed dramatically in 2012 when funding ended, the research and technical teams preserved the Pisces V and its priceless 35-year video and biological data archive. Now, the donation to the Bishop Museum opens a vibrant new chapter.

"The Museum has a long and productive history of partnership with the University of Hawai'i and the Hawai'i Undersea Research Laboratory," said Richard Pyle, Senior Curator of Ichthyology and Director of Natural Sciences at Bishop Museum. "Researchers at the Museum have done many dives within these subs over the decades, and our collections hold more than 1,000 scientifically important specimens the sub has collected over the years. It's very exciting that we can help perpetuate the incredible legacy of these submersibles, and honor the people who fortified that legacy."

In addition to sharing the history of exploration and celebrating the dedicated engineers, pilots, and support crews whose ingenuity made thousands of safe dives possible, the Pisces V's presence at the museum will inspire future generations of explorers and spark curiosity in ocean science, volcanology, and marine heritage among visitors.

"Above all, we want to make sure the important legacy of these submarines is maintained and communicated to our visitors at the Museum," said Kris Helgen, president and CEO of Bishop Museum. "The role of Bishop Museum involves telling the stories that matter to Hawai'i and the Pacific, including stories of ocean exploration. We are thrilled to have the Pisces V on our campus."

Though her sea days have concluded, Pisces V will continue her mission on shore-teaching visitors about the vast, dark world beneath the waves that she spent a lifetime illuminating.