10,767 Meters Below Sea Level: China’s Submersible Sets New Record

Beijing — China’s unmanned submersible dived to a depth of 10,767 meters, setting a new record for the country, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) said Tuesday.

“Haidou-1” set the record at the Mariana Trench in the West Pacific, the deepest area in the world, during a scientific expedition from June 22 to Aug. 12, 2016.

During the trip the submersible dived over 8,000 meters below the sea surface once, 9,000 meters twice and 10,000 meters twice. This makes China the third country after Japan and the United States to have built submersibles capable of reaching depths in excess of 10,000 meters.

“It is another milestone in our maritime science journey after Jiaolong manned submersible,” said Liu Xincheng, a scientist with CAS and head of the expedition.

During the expedition, scientists also collected over 2,000 biological samples from 5,000 meters to 10,000 meters below sea level, including some unidentified species.

In June 2012, Jiaolong reached a depth of 7,062 meters at the Mariana Trench. (PNA/Xinhua) RMA/JSV/SSC