Alvin, the submersible vessel and not the annoying cartoon character, took its first dive in 1964 to an impressive 35-foot depth. It is now capable of diving 4,500 meters. Could Alvin be used to find the elusive jaguar shark or the rare kraken? Probably not. While Alvin hasn't battled with a mysterious sea monster, the ship once won a fight with a particularly aggressive swordfish. The vessel was undamaged but the fish became a feast.

National Geographic Museum
Washington, D.C.