Which submarine went the deepest? This question has intrigued oceanographers and adventurers for decades. The quest to explore the deepest parts of the ocean has always been a challenging and dangerous endeavor, but it has also led to groundbreaking discoveries. In this article, we will delve into the history of submarine exploration and identify the submarine that holds the record for the deepest dive.
The first successful submarine to reach the deepest part of the ocean was the Trieste. Launched in 1952, the Trieste was a research submarine designed by the U.S. Navy. On January 23, 1960, the Trieste, piloted by Lieutenant Don Walsh and Swiss oceanographer Jacques Piccard, achieved a historic dive to the Mariana Trench, located in the western Pacific Ocean. The Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the world’s oceans, reaching a depth of approximately 36,000 feet (10,994 meters).
The journey to the Mariana Trench was fraught with peril. The Trieste was designed to withstand immense pressure, as the ocean’s pressure at the trench’s bottom is roughly 1,086 pounds per square inch (PSI). The crew faced numerous challenges, including the risk of equipment failure and the extreme cold temperatures, which can drop to -2 degrees Celsius (28 degrees Fahrenheit) at the trench’s bottom.
Upon reaching the bottom of the Mariana Trench, Walsh and Piccard took photographs and collected samples, providing invaluable data to scientists. The successful dive of the Trieste marked a significant milestone in ocean exploration and laid the groundwork for future missions to the deepest parts of the ocean.
Since the Trieste’s historic dive, there have been several attempts to break the record. In 2012, the Deepsea Challenger, a privately funded submarine, reached the Mariana Trench, piloted by oceanographer James Cameron. While this dive was a remarkable achievement, it did not surpass the depth achieved by the Trieste.
The quest to discover which submarine went the deepest continues to inspire scientists and engineers. As technology advances, we can expect even more impressive achievements in ocean exploration. However, the record set by the Trieste remains a testament to the bravery and determination of the crew who ventured into the unknown depths of the ocean.
