Filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence James Cameron is a man of his word; weeks ago he announced that he was going to attempt to make an unprecedented solo oceanic dive — almost 7 miles deep down Mariana’s Trench — and last weekend he accomplished this feat, after seven years of planning. Cameron’s submarine adventure is humankind’s first solo dive to the deepest spot in the ocean, according to The Christian Science Monitor.
“It was very lunar. A very desolate place. Very isolated,” Cameron described in a post-dive interview. “My feeling was one of complete isolation from all of humanity. I mean, I feel like I literally in the space of one day, have gone to another planet and come back.”
Cameron traveled for about three hours at literally the bottom of the ocean, under pressure of 16,000 PSI, which squeezed his submarine inwards — fortunately, it had been designed to withstand and function with that in mind. In the high pressure and completely dark environment, Cameron used LED lights and cameras to research and record the unique marine life down there.
“Many of the animals that live there are adapted to this extreme pressure, the total darkness. They are usually white, they have no pigment. Some of them have eyes to see bioluminescence. Some of them have no eyes at all. It’s a completely alien world,” said Cameron, who is no stranger to alien-like creatures in his films.
I presume that the footage from Cameron’s record-breaking expedition will be revealed in a film or National Geographic special, but in the meantime, here’s the video where he describes his experience:
When this film is going to be made is yet to be determined, but it could take some time. “This is a vast frontier down there,” said Cameron. “It’s going to take a while to understand.”
Photo via NationalGeographic on YouTube
