James Cameron Decides to Let Scientists Use His Awesome Submersible
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution inherits the submarine, which they will use to built even better submersibles
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Ocean-loving director James Cameron is supporting future deep sea exploration by donating the $10 million submersible that he used to venture into the sea’s deepest spot last year. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution will inherit the vehicle, and according to the New York Times, the undersea craft will help in designing more advanced vehicles and technologies.
Cameron timed the announcement to coincide with the anniversary of his seven-mile solo dive last year into the lowest point of the Mariana Trench, the Challenger Deep. Unfortunately, Cameron didn’t find much. As PCMag reported last year, Cameron said the landscape was an almost “completely featureless … almost gelatinous flat plain.” But Cameron’s submersible—the only one currently capable of carrying a person seven miles deep—was a notable proof of concept.
According to the Times, Woods Hole should receive the vehicle sometime in June.
More from Smithsonian.com:
How Do Crabs See on the Ocean Floor?
James Cameron on the Future of Cinema
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