The Deep Sea Challenge

The Deep Sea Challenge was an exploration project to reach the deepest point in the ocean. It was led by filmmaker James Cameron. A special submersible called the Deepsea Challenger was built for the mission. In 2012, Cameron dove alone to the bottom of the Mariana Trench.

Building the Submersible

The Deepsea Challenger took seven years to design and build. It was shaped like a tall, narrow torpedo so it could sink quickly. The walls were made of a special foam that could handle the enormous pressure at the bottom of the ocean. It carried cameras, lights, and robotic arms to collect samples.

The Historic Dive

On March 26, 2012, James Cameron climbed into the Deepsea Challenger and dove down nearly 7 miles. The trip to the bottom took about two hours. He spent several hours exploring and filming the seafloor. He was only the third person ever to reach the bottom of Challenger Deep.

Fun Facts

• The Deepsea Challenger dove to about 35,787 feet deep.
• James Cameron is the first person to make the dive to Challenger Deep solo.
• The submersible shrank about 3 inches from the pressure at the bottom of the trench.

Did You Know?

James Cameron is also the director of the movie Titanic, and he has made more than 30 dives to the real Titanic wreck.