The Five Deeps Expedition is launching the first global ocean journey to send a manned submersible vessile farther and deeper down the oceans than any in history for a new series, Deep Planet that will be broadcast on the Discovery Channel (DStv 121) in 2019.
Deep Planet (working title) is described as "a journey like no other, diving to the deepest points below the surface of the earth's five oceans to places never-before-seen by the human eye".
"One thing that 30 years of Shark Week has taught us is that there are always more places to explore," says Nancy Daniels, chief brand officer, of Discovery Channel.
"No one has spent more time in the ocean than Discovery, making us uniquely suited to bring this once in a lifetime expedition to audiences around the world."
Deep Planet is a collaboration between investor and explorer Victor Vescovo of Caladan Oceanic, Triton Submarines, and EYOS Expeditions, with the Five Deeps Expedition that has assembled an experienced team capable of delivering the expedition's mission.
A two-person deep sea research submersible has been designed specifically for this endeavour, and it will bring its stories of the voyage to the world.
The vessel, named the Limiting Factor, is the first commercially certified full ocean depth submersible. It will be transported and deployed into the ocean depths by the Pressure Drop, a ship retrofitted exclusively for the expedition.
The mission will include dives to:
- Puerto Rico Trench (Atlantic Ocean 8,648 meters)
- South Sandwich Trench (Southern Ocean 8,428 meters)
- Java Trench (Indian Ocean 7,725 meters)
- Mariana Trench/Challenger Deep (Pacific Ocean 10,898 meters)
- Malloy Deep (Arctic Ocean 5,669 meters)
"In 2015, I was very surprised to discover that no one had ever been to the bottom of four of the world's oceans," says Victor Vescovo.
"I've always loved a great physical and technical challenge and like those currently attempting to push space technology to the limit, I thought it would be a great goal to push the absolute limits of marine technology."
"Our team includes the brightest and best in engineering and oceanography who have worked to create the most advanced submersible of its kind and will undergo the ultimate series of dive challenges. We sincerely hope to make history both technically and scientifically on this expedition."
The scientific mission is being led by scientist Dr. Alan Jamieson of Newcastle University, who has embarked on 50 deep sea exploration missions.
"Currently, we know more about the intricacies of the lunar surface than we do about the depths of our own oceans on earth. The discoveries made on this expedition promise a world of new scientific innovation in almost every area of biological, geological and oceanographic study," says Dr. Alan Jamieson.
Deep Planet is being filmed by Atlantic Productions and documentary filmmaker Anthony Geffen.
"This is one of the most significant explorations and scientific expeditions of the last century," says Anthony Geffen.
"Each of the dives is like following a moon shot. Our partnership with Discovery Channel gives us the chance to bring millions around the world into the cockpit of the submersible and provide them with a viewing experience unlike any before it."
