After three years of intensive efforts from some of the world’s leading expedition experts, oceanographers, submarine engineers, and scientists, the Five Deeps Expedition is launching.
The Five Deeps Expedition
An expedition of this size and scope has never before been attempted. It is a global ocean journey that will send a manned submersible vessel farther and deeper than any in history. It is a journey like no other, diving to the five deepest points below the surface of the Earth’s oceans to places never-before-seen by the human eye.
The Five Deeps
The mission will include dives to:
- Puerto Rico Trench, the deepest point of the Atlantic Ocean (8,648 meters)
- South Sandwich Trench, the deepest point of the Southern Ocean (8,428 meters)
- Java Trench, the deepest point of the Indian Ocean (7,725 meters)
- Mariana Trench/Challenger Deep, the deepest point of the Pacific Ocean (10,898 meters)
- Malloy Deep, the deepest point of the Arctic Ocean (5,669 meters)
Limiting Factor
A two-person, titanium-hulled, deep sea research submersible has been designed specifically for this endeavor, 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.
Pressure Drop
Limiting Factor will be transported and deployed into the ocean depths by the Pressure Drop, a ship retrofitted exclusively for the expedition.
The Team
The Five Deeps Expedition is a collaboration between investor and explorer Victor Vescovo of Caladan Oceanic, EYOS Expeditions and Triton Submarines.
Victor Vescovo, Pilot of Limiting Factor
Victor Vescovo, the founder of Caladan Oceanic will pilot the sub. He has climbed the world’s seven highest mountain peaks and trekked to the North and South Poles.
We sincerely hope to make history both technically and scientifically on this expedition.”
“In 2015, I was very surprised to discover that no one had ever been to the bottom of four of the world’s oceans,” Vescovo said.
“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.”
EYOS Expeditions Operations
EYOS will be leading the expedition and coordinating all aspects including the planning, background support and logistics.
“The EYOS Expeditions team has collectively managed over 1,200 expeditions and we are deeply honoured to have been selected as the primary expedition planners for the Five Deeps Expedition, and to have our co-founder Rob McCallum as its Expedition Leader.”
“This marks a new era of citizen science and really illustrates the tremendous contribution private owners can make to scientific research and technology development.” — Ben Lyons, CEO, Eyos Expeditions
Rob McCallum, Five Deeps Expedition Leader
Rob McCallum, Co-Founder of EYOS Expeditions and Five Deeps Expedition Leader, will be responsible for the overall coordination of the Five Deeps Expedition, including the extensive preparations and planning, as well as the day to day operational leadership.
This project allows us to finally explore the last frontier on Earth. I guess from here we head to Mars!”
An acknowledged expert in deep-water submersible operations, he has led multiple expeditions to the RMS Titanic (4,000m) and battleship Bismarck (5,000m) utilizing the twin ‘Mir’ submersibles (6,000m).
“For me this is a dream project: the chance to assemble a group of top professionals, to plan an itinerary from the ‘blank canvas’ stage, to refit a vessel to become the primary expedition platform, to develop a submersible that is at the cutting edge of exploration…and then set off on a mission that has never been possible before.”
With a diverse background ranging from helping guide a complete Antarctic circumnavigation by icebreaker to extensive deep-ocean searching, he has spent decades mounting complex logistical operations in remote and often hostile regions.
The Scientific Mission
The scientific mission is being led by scientist Dr. Alan Jamieson of Newcastle University, who has embarked on 50 deep sea exploration missions.
“The discoveries made on this expedition promise a world of new scientific innovation in almost every area of biological, geological and oceanographic study,” Dr. Jamieson said.
The Documentary Film
The Five Deeps Expedition is being filmed by BAFTA and Emmy winning Atlantic Productions and one the world’s leading documentary filmmakers Anthony Geffen.
“This is one of the most significant explorations and scientific expeditions of the last century,” Geffen said.
“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.”
The official Five Deeps website
For more information on The Five Deeps Expedition visit the official website at fivedeeps.com.
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