Series 2 – Challenger Deep Dives

The second dive series to the depths of the Mariana Trench at Challenger Deep further increased the number of people who have been to the bottom and set new milestones in the exploration of the Pacific Ocean’s hadal zone.

Those who joined Victor Vescovo for the second dive series include Kelly Walsh, the son of the first person to reach the bottom of Challenger Deep (Captain Don Walsh), research scientist from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Dr. Ying-Tsong “Y.-T.” Lin and, finally, private equity investor and former U.S. Marine Jim Wigginton.

With the completion of this dive series, it is now true that more people have been to the bottom of the ocean than the surface of the moon, with thirteen individuals having accomplished the feat.

Challenger Deep Accomplishments

Dive Series 1 & 2

After Dive Series 2 to Challenger Deep, the expedition accomplished the following:

Six manned dives and twenty-five lander deployments to the bottom of Challenger Deep

First expedition to investigate all three of Challenger Deep’s pools (Eastern, Central, and Western)

Conducted extensive sonar mapping and survey missions across all three of the pools, setting new milestones in the exploration of the deep ocean

MEET THE DIVERS

Kelly Walsh

To begin the second dive series, Victor Vescovo was joined by Kelly Walsh, son of Captain Don Walsh, who led the first expedition to the bottom of Challenger Deep in the bathyscaphe Trieste in 1960 with Swiss engineer Jacques Piccard. Reaching a maximum depth of 10,923 m, the two explorers searched the same area where the predecessor craft touched down exactly 60 years ago.

Dr. Ying-Tsong “Y.-T.” Lin

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) research scientist, Dr. Ying-Tsong “Y.-T.” Lin, joined explorer Victor Vescovo and EYOS Expeditions in Triton Submarines’ Deep Submergence Vehicle (DSV) Limiting Factor in a deep dive to the bottom of Challenger Deep’s central pool (10,915 meters +/- 4 meters) making him not only the first person born in Taiwan to go to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, but also the first from the Asian continent to do so. Five sensors attached to the lander Skaff, and the DSV Limiting Factor, confirmed the depth.

Jim Wigginton

Along with Victor for the last dive of Series 2 was Caladan Oceanic client and private equity investor Jim Wigginton. With the completion of his dive to Challenger Deep, Wigginton became the 13th human, and first former United States Marine, to ever reach the bottom of the Deep.

Series 2 Video Highlights

Kelly Walsh’ dives following in his father’s footsteps

“Y.T.” Lin’s dive to Challenger Deep

Collection of footage from our dives to Challenger Deep

video galleries

Series 2 Photo Highlights

photo galleries