Projects
PC1401 ("Diaphus") Research & Tourist Submarine Capable of Diving to 984 Feet (300m)
Members of DSA were employed on the island of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands to operate the three-person Perry built PC1401 ("Diaphus") in a tourist capacity. PC1401 was purchased from Texas A&M University and then shipped direct to the St. Croix, USVI. PC1401 was extensively refit before being put into service carrying passengers. DSA members worked closely with the USCG and famed author Frank Busby in an effort to continue operations while legislation was being put in place, which eventually limited manned submersible operations carrying passengers for hire in US territorial waters to 150 feet (46m). When the operation in St. Croix was shut down because the USCG would not allow the submersible to operate beyond 150 feet, PC1401 was sold back to the original manufacturer (Perry) where the submersible was refit and made ready for science operations.
DSA was employed to maintain and operate the submersible for a series of dives off the Florida Coast and the Bahamas. The sub was eventually fitted with a prototype fuel cell and remained as a test vehicle until it was bought by a German group to recover WW 11 artifacts.
