June 23rd 2023.
Exploring the depths of the ocean has been a fascination for many adventurers throughout history. Very few have gone as far as the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the five oceans. It lies around 35,814 ft below sea level, a distance of around seven miles below the surface.
The OceanGate submersible Titan, which had the ability to dive to depths of 13,123 ft, was attempted by five passengers. This included billionaire explorer Hamish Harding, French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, his 19-year-old son Suleman, and OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush. Tragically, all five died following a ‘catastrophic implosion’ of the vessel while underwater.
No human could attempt a dive to such depths without a vessel, as the water pressure at the bottom of the trench is powerful enough to crush most submersibles. However, some life does exist that far down. Swiss oceanographer Jacques Piccard, who explored the trench in 1960, reported seeing a foot-long flat fish on his descent, and other species such as amoeba, jellyfish, amphipods and snailfish have been discovered.
Prior to 2019, only three people had ever made it as far down as Challenger Deep. These included Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard in 1960, and film director James Cameron in 2012. Since then, 25 people have made the journey, the majority in the sub DSV Limiting Factor. One of them was the unfortunate British billionaire, Hamish Harding, who set new records for greatest length covered and greatest time spent at full ocean depth.
Exploring the Mariana Trench is no easy feat. It takes a brave and daring soul to take on such an adventure. But despite the risks, it is also a journey of discovery and wonder, as highlighted by James Cameron. He has compared his deep-sea adventures to 'bearing witness to a miracle', and for those who can make it down there, it is certainly an experience they are unlikely to forget.
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