The research vessel,"Knorr," at harbor in Woods Hole, Massachussets. Oceanographer Robert Duane Ballard and crews of "Knorr", and "Lulu" prepare for Caribbean expedition, by test diving the deep sea submersible, "Alvin" in local waters. Mr.Ballard discusses his techniques to study the evolution of the Earth's surface. Ballard leaves the Knorr, aboard a skiff, and proceeds to the mother ship,"Lulu", where the deep diving submersible, "Alvin" is kept. Crewmen make adjustments to the "Alvin" and lower it by winches and cables, through an opening in the "Lulu" deck. Ballard and his pilot enter the Alvin for an 8 hour operation check run. Rear view of Alvin bobbing in the open space within the Lulu. several smimming divers release lines from the Alvin. An operator aboard the Lulu clears the Alvin for a dive. The research vessel moves underwater. Underwater views of the Alvin. Interior views of the Alvin, showing instruments and meters. At 3000 meters depth, they are in complete darkness, and the pilot turns on lights. Ballard notes underwater features. A surge of sand and mud rises from the Alvin's propeller. He takes photographs of creatures and sea bottom. The Alvin surfaces after the dive and is met by swimmers who dive from the Lulu, and climb aboard to assist in the return and securing of the deepsea submersible in its berth aboard the mother vessel, "Lulu."
Many people die as storm sweeps Caribbean. The wind lashes the trees on the Jamaican island. The storm sweeps in. Uprooted trees and damaged buildings are seen. Ships are also damaged. The walls of a hospital collapsed and killed several patients. Many killed in the storm. Wreckage seen.
United States Marines off for secret war games in Caribbeans, at Quantico, Virgina. Mariners board a the battleships New York and Wyoming. Ship heads for the open sea and secret war maneuvers off the coast.
U.S. Forces guard West Indies Oil during the World War II. U.S. Military men load bombs on a U.S. Bomber plane. The bomber takes off and in flight over the Caribbean Sea. Pilots in the cockpit. A ship in water. Officers of the U.S. Military at the Aruba Oil Refinery in West Indies. Supplies and equipment of the U.S. Military.
The Caribbean Cruiser Ship SS Atlantic, off Port Everglades, Florida. Ship stuck aground. Passengers on ship wave. People dance as music plays. Instrumentalists play music. People wear cane hats and enjoy their cruise ship vacation on the stuck ship, even as crews work to free the ship.
Passengers and crew, on a Hamburg-American Line steamship, participate in a Pirate theme costume party the first day out on a cruise in the caribbean. Crew members and possibly a few passengers (including a young boy) pose in their costumes before the party begins. Festive table set for the party. Guests in costumes being served by crew members dressed as pirates. Luxury dining tables with food on the cruise ship. At a Pirate Ball, in the evening, passengers, in costumes,dance in long lines as balloons fall from the ceiling. Couples dancing during the ball.