#Industry News
EYOS Expeditions' Five Deeps mission makes historic dive to Java Trench
An international expedition to reach the deepest points of the world’s oceans has made history again.
Explorer Victor Vescovo, of the Five Deeps Expedition, can now lay claim to being the first human ever to dive to the Java Trench, the deepest point in the Indian Ocean.
Vescovo dived 7,192 metres down using Limiting Factor, a two-person deep sea research submersible designed by Triton Submarines. It is the third historic dive made by the Five Deeps Expedition.
Rob McCallum of EYOS Expeditions, which coordinates the expedition, said: “We know a lot more about the hadal zone of the Indian Ocean that we did a few days ago, so I am very proud of Victor, the team, and their contributions to ocean science.”The expedition also saw scientists flummoxed by the discovery of a new species described as “an extraordinary gelatinous animal”.
Footage of the animal, which rendered scientists “speechless”, was captured by the sub at the bottom of the trench and is thought to be a “stalked Ascidean” or “Sea Squirt”.
Dr Alan Jamieson of Newcastle University, who is leading the expedition’s scientific mission, said: “It is not often we see something that is so extraordinary that it leaves us speechless. At this point we are not entirely sure what species it was, but we will find out in due course.”The Java Trench victory follows successful dives by the expedition to the deepest points in the Atlantic Ocean and Southern Ocean.
The team is now preparing to dive to the Pacific Ocean’s Mariana Trench, the deepest ocean trench on earth.The expedition was launched by charter specialist EYOS Expeditions last year and follows three years of preparation and research. If successful, it will see a manned submersible vessel reach the five deepest points in the oceans.
The expedition is a collaboration between investor and explorer Vescovo, EYOS Expeditions and Triton Submarines.
EYOS Expeditions previously provided polar logistics and operational support on board 56 metre research vessel Alucia on her three month deployment to Antarctica for the BBC series Blue Planet II.
