James Cameron reveals what he saw in submersible at the deepest point in the ocean, over 35,000 feet beneath the surface
- James Cameron said what he saw at the deepest part of the ocean
- He did the project solo in a submersible
- It was part of a $10 million project
Published on Jan 15, 2025 at 9:53 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Jan 15, 2025 at 9:54 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Canadian movie director James Cameron opened up about what he saw when he reached the deepest part of the ocean in a submersible.
He was aboard the Deepsea Challenger submersible in March 26, 2012, to descend Challenger Deep – the ocean’s deepest point.
Cameron reached depths of 35,787 feet (around 11,000 meters).
It was part of a $10 million project that took several years to complete.
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James Cameron submersible expedition
The depth near Guam spans such a distance that the submersible took nearly three hours to reach the trench floor in the western Pacific Ocean at the southern end of the Mariana Trench.
The world’s first submersible superyacht worth $2 billion, however, allows passengers to remain underwater for weeks.
Cameron’s trip may have been quicker aboard the world’s fastest personal submersible.
The site is over double the depth of the Titanic wreckage which is 12,500 (3,800 meters) feet deep – a site he visited 33 times from 1995-2005.
Even more impressive, the Titanic and Avatar director completed the world-record-breaking feat solo.
Once in the depths, Cameron explored for four hours.
Ever the professional, as well as collecting sediment samples he also did some filming.
Meanwhile, the world’s first submersible supercar ever created has introduced luxury to the ocean.
What he saw in deepest part of ocean
The 70-year-old film mogul explained that the project had been a ‘boyhood dream’.
He described the depths as ‘a sterile, almost desert-like place’.
He told NPR: “It’s very lunar. You don’t expect a profusion of life, like you might see at, let’s say, a hydrothermal vent community.”
It wasn’t entirely a vanity project, he discovered 68 new species – bacteria and small invertebrates – in the name of science.
This was the second manned expedition to Challenger Deep since the submersible Trieste – piloted by Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard – visited in 1960.
Inspired by his experience, it led him to make his documentary Deep Sea Challenge 3D
“It was absolutely the most remote, isolated place on the planet,” he said to BBC News.
“I really feel like in one day I’ve been to another planet and come back.”
London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the experienced content creator and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms and coveted brands. When her OOO is on you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym or exploring the city she loves.
