An exciting expedition is underway in the Pacific Ocean’s Mariana Trench!
This month filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer James Cameron will dive more than 7 miles beneath the ocean’s surface to its deepest point.
These deep sea trenches are among the remaining unexplored frontiers on the planet. Thanks to a remarkable new manned vehicle designed by Cameron and his team, he will be able to collect samples in the Trench for research in marine biology, microbiology, astrobiology, marine geology, and geophysics.
U.S. Navy Lt. Don Walsh and Swiss oceanographer Jacques Piccard completed a similar dive in 1960, but could spend only 20 minutes on the ocean floor. Thanks to recent breakthroughs in materials and engineering, Cameron’s specially designed vehicle will enable him to spend six hours collecting specimens at that extreme depth.
Challenge Coverage
National Geographic will be regularly posting updates about final tests and preparations for this dive as well as what happens during the actual dive on their website.
Follow this exciting event and be a part of history as Cameron and his Deepsea crew go where no explorer has ever gone before!
