Deepest Dives

Undersea explorer Victor Vescovo recently became the first person to visit the deepest spot in each of Earth’s oceans. As part of the Five Deeps Expedition, he and a group of scientists and engineers sailed around the globe to explore five different ocean trenches.

At each depression in the seafloor, the team scanned the area with sonar—a device that bounces sound waves off objects to measure their distance. That allowed them to identify the trench’s deepest point. Then they lowered an SUV-sized submersible into the water. The design of their underwater vehicle allowed it to withstand the enormous pressure of water pushing down on it.

Vescovo piloted the sub for up to 12 hours as he surveyed each trench. The expedition discovered several new marine species and unmapped landforms. “We are getting to do true exploration to places no one has ever been,” says Vescovo.