What did Victor Vescovo discover when he revisited Challenger Deep in 2019?
The deepest solo dive in history found new species, measured a new depth record - and spotted a plastic bag on the ocean floor.
The answer
In April 2019, American explorer Victor Vescovo piloted the submersible DSV Limiting Factor to 10,928 meters in the Challenger Deep, setting a new record for the deepest solo dive. Over four hours at the bottom, he observed previously undocumented species including translucent stalked ascidians, brightly colored rocky outcrops, and new amphipod species. Disturbingly, he also spotted a plastic bag and candy wrappers at the deepest point on Earth. Vescovo completed the dive as part of the Five Deeps Expedition, which visited the deepest point of all five oceans within 10 months. The expedition's multibeam sonar produced the most detailed map of the Mariana Trench ever created.
Source: BBC News
- challenger deep
- victor vescovo
- deep-sea exploration
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