The legendary Hollywood director, who took part in the expedition Mirs at Baikal and committed the submersion to the depths of the legendary lake in 2010, today submerged to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Mr. Cameron, carried away by oceanography from childhood, has already made 72 deep-water submersions. In most cases this was connected with his work. During the shooting of the blockbuster Titanic he descended to the remnants of the famous liner with the Russian pilots by Deep Submergence Vehicle Mir. Russian vehicles Mirs were also involved for preparing Cameron’s documentaries Ghosts of the Abyss and Aliens of the Deep.

James Cameron was the third man in history who has reached the deepest point of the World Ocean (so-called Challenger Abyss) at the depth of nearly 11 miles. He stayed there for about six hours, collecting samples of soil and living organisms for biologists and geologists. And, of course, he was shooting from the board of the Deep Submergence Vehicle Deepsea Challenge, in the technical development of which he played a direct role. The footage will form the basis of the scientific documentary of National Geographic.
Chairman of the Guardianship Board of the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal Mikhail Slipenchuk congratulated James Cameron on this outstanding achievement:

Dear James!

I learned with admiration and great joy about an unprecedented event – your diving to the deepest place of the world ocean! Please accept my warmest congratulations on the occasion of your fantastic trip! I remember our joint participation within the framework of the expedition “Mirs at Lake Baikal” and our diving to the bottom of the most beautiful lake in the world.

I am sure that thanks to the impressions you have got after this travel you will draw inspiration which will help you create another masterpiece.

I wish you to remain the same active, cheerful and optimistic person that you are!

Photo - Mark Thiessen, National Geographic