James Cameron Reaches Deepest Spot on Earth

Associated Press ^ | 3/25/12

[anymouse]

Hollywood icon James Cameron has made it to Earth's deepest point.

The director of "Titanic," ''Avatar" and other films used a specially designed submarine to dive nearly seven miles, completing his journey a little before 8 a.m. Monday local time, according to Stephanie Montgomery of the National Geographic Society.

He plans to spend about six hours exploring and filming the Mariana Trench, about 200 miles southwest of the Pacific island of Guam.

"All systems OK," were Cameron's first words upon reaching the bottom, according to a statement. His arrival at a depth of 35,756 feet came early Sunday evening on the U.S. East Coast, after a descent that took more than two hours.

[upchuck]

Your tagline mostly explains why I no longer own a TV.

[dr_lew]

Well, he's back! This BBC article says he spent three hours on the bottom.

[twister881]

Species discovered heretofore not known to be able to survive at such depths, liberalis Marianas

[anymouse]

Because it was the first place I found the story. I was surprised that no one else posted an article about this before me.

[ctdonath2]

To be there when it gets where it’s going.

You foot the bill, you enjoy the ride.

[43north]

I stand corrected.

ONE view port! No video cams!

It is just difficult to “fathom” what that must have been like.

[Viking2002]

Yeah, I wanna see the bucketmouth they brought up with that thing...........and the special issue of Bassmaster they put out to cover it. LOL

"As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their hearts desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."

--H.L. Mencken, The Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920

[Trod Upon]

You evil bastard. I’m afraid to go to sleep now.

[Lancey Howard]

Cameron made several trips to the Titanic in a similar submersible. My guess is he simply finds exploring the ocean depths an enjoyable hobby that he can afford. I also suspect he’s got another movie up his sleeve and he’s doing some prep work.

[Lancey Howard]

James Cameron back on surface after deepest ocean dive

[MirrorField]

Navy did it 50 years ago in the “Trieste” spelling ?

Yes, and nobody has been there since. 50 years ago, for few minutes (Cameron had hours available) with mud flowing around from propellers (Cameron's design puts propellers at top to minimize turbulence precisely to avoid disturbing bottom mud). Trieste also didn't have much in way of cameras or external lights and (I think) one lousy viewport was all they had. And let's not even talk about what 50 years means in scientific instrumentation...

The Guy might recoup quite a lot of his initial investment from the film footage and the scientific data collected will be ...quite valuable.

[Eye of Unk]

I saw a video once of a deep dive vessel that was sent down, developed a leak and filled with water.

I don’t think anyone was inside but when they tried to release the hatch on the deck of the recovery ship water pressure at something like over 6000psi shot out at a velocity that could literally cut steel.

I work with hydraulics and nominally the highest pressures I see on my heavy equipment is still much lower than the water pressure at those depths, really scary when you think about it, more hostile than deep space.