The Black Elk Energy platform is submerged at South Timbalier Block 185 in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Black Elk Energy platform is submerged at South Timbalier Block 185 in the Gulf of Mexico.

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OceanGate's Antipodes submersible vessel is carried into the Gulf of Mexico, where it was used to study the federal Rigs to Reefs program.

OceanGate's Antipodes submersible vessel is carried into the Gulf of Mexico, where it was used to study the federal Rigs to Reefs program.

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OceanGate's Antipodes submersible vessel, which holds five people, prepares to dive in the Gulf of Mexico to observe a rig that has become an artificial reef.

OceanGate's Antipodes submersible vessel, which holds five people, prepares to dive in the Gulf of Mexico to observe a rig that has become an artificial reef.

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OceanGate's Antipodes submersible vessel, which holds five people, prepares to dive in the Gulf of Mexico to observe a rig that has become an artificial reef.

OceanGate's Antipodes submersible vessel, which holds five people, prepares to dive in the Gulf of Mexico to observe a rig that has become an artificial reef.

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A diver explores a rig that has been turned into an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico.

A diver explores a rig that has been turned into an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico.

Photo: Chris Ledford / Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

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A group of divers examine artificial reefs made from decommissioned rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.

A group of divers examine artificial reefs made from decommissioned rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.

Photo: Chris Ledford / Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

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A diver examines marine life living in an artificial reef created by a decommissioned rig in the Gulf of Mexico.

A diver examines marine life living in an artificial reef created by a decommissioned rig in the Gulf of Mexico.

Photo: Chris Ledford / Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

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A barracuda swims by a rig that has been made into an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico.

A barracuda swims by a rig that has been made into an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico.

Photo: Chris Ledford / Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

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A cocoa damselfish swims by a decommissioned rig that has become and artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico.

A cocoa damselfish swims by a decommissioned rig that has become and artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico.

Photo: Chris Ledford / Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

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A diver holds up a watch to an artificial reef created by a decommissioned rig in the Gulf of Mexico.

A diver holds up a watch to an artificial reef created by a decommissioned rig in the Gulf of Mexico.

Photo: Chris Ledford / Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

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Divers and a fish swim by a rig that has become an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico.

Divers and a fish swim by a rig that has become an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico.

Photo: Chris Ledford / Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

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Subsea life flourishes on an oil rig that has become an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico.

Subsea life flourishes on an oil rig that has become an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico.

Photo: Chris Ledford / Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

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OceanGate uses manned submersible to observe Rigs to Reefs (photos)

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HOUSTON — OceanGate, a Seattle-based provider of deep-water submersible vessels, has released a new crop of underwater images from the federal Rigs to Reefs program, showing sea creatures swimming among the steel legs of an old Black Elk Energy platform.

The manned submersibles typically are contracted for deep-water research and filming of shipwrecks and underwater life. But OceanGate made its first dive to observe an oil facility in the Gulf of Mexico earlier this year.

The team, including coral expert Paul W. Sammarco of the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, wanted to observe the environmental impact of the Rigs to Reefs program, which allows operators to sink their decommissioned platforms into Gulf of Mexico to become artificial homes for fish and other ocean life.

OceanGate’s submersibles have been used to observe a World War II hellcat fighter plane off Miami and shipwrecks in the Pacific Northwest. But OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush said the company wanted to take the Rigs to Reefs dive to pitch its vessels as tools for inspecting offshore oil and gas facilities, a job typically done by scuba diving teams or remotely operated vehicles.

He said OceanGate’s submersibles allow for lengthier underwater stays than scuba diving and provide a larger fields of view than ROVs.

“In manned submersibles, you can stay down for hours,” Rush said. “You can converse with a partner and your field of vision is greater, so you see animals in a broader environment.”

CBS went underwater with Sammarco and the OceanGate team while observing the Black Elk platform. You can check out the colorful display they found there in this CBS Evening News segment, originally aired in July: