What's at the bottom of the ocean -- and how we're getting there | Victor Vescovo

TL;DR

Victor Vescovo discusses his team's design and construction of the world's deepest diving submersible, exploring the uncharted depths of the oceans.

Transcript

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Key Insights

• 🔬 Private individuals are investing in new exploration technologies, such as submersibles, to explore the 95% of the unexplored oceans on our planet.
• 🚀 Ocean exploration is similar to space exploration, with companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin exploring outer space while Victor Vescovo's team explores the depths of the oceans.
• 🌊 The submersible, called the Limiting Factor, is a state-of-the-art vessel that can dive repeatedly to the deepest points of the ocean, including the Challenger Deep.
• ⚙️ Building a submersible that can withstand extreme ocean depths requires precise engineering and the use of materials like titanium.
• 🌍 Victor's team is focused on exploring the 60% of the planet that remains unexplored and discovering new species that have been isolated for billions of years.
• 💪 The submersible can spend up to 10 or 11 hours at the deepest parts of the ocean, allowing for extended exploration and research.
• 🌊 The team has successfully dived and explored the Atlantic Ocean, Southern Ocean, and the Indian Ocean, and discovered new species and confirmed the deepest point in the latter.
• 🔍 The main objective of Victor's mission is to build a tool that can allow scientists to conduct thousands of dives, opening the door to further exploration and discovery of unknown species in the ocean.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is Victor Vescovo's background and what has he been doing for the last four years?

Victor Vescovo has led a team to design and build the most advanced and deepest diving submersible on the planet. He has the ability to personally pilot it. Over the last four years, he has been working on this project.

Q: Who has seen the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean before Victor Vescovo?

Nobody has seen the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean before Victor Vescovo's expedition. He and his team were the first to explore and document this previously unexplored area.

Q: How does Victor Vescovo describe the current era of exploration?

Victor Vescovo describes the current era of exploration as a wonderful time where private individuals are using their resources to develop technologies that can take us to places that have never been explored before. He mentions how there are companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin exploring outer space, and his expedition aims to explore the unexplored depths of the oceans.

Q: What is the main objective of Victor Vescovo's mission?

The main objective of Victor Vescovo's mission is to build a tool, a deep-diving submersible, that can take scientists to any point on the bottom of the ocean. By doing so, they hope to discover and explore the 60 percent of the planet that is still unexplored.

Q: What are some of the challenges and risks of diving to extreme depths in a submersible?

Diving to extreme depths in a submersible has its challenges and risks. Victor Vescovo mentions that if you're claustrophobic, you wouldn't want to be in the submarine because the missions typically last for eight to nine hours in a confined space. There is also the risk of leaks or fire in the capsule, but he reassures that their submersible is built to withstand these extreme pressures and conditions.

Q: How long does it take for Victor Vescovo to reach the deepest part of the ocean and how long can they spend down there?

It takes about three hours for Victor Vescovo to reach the deepest part of the ocean in their submersible. They can then spend usually three or four hours exploring before spending another three hours to ascend back to the surface. The total time spent in the submersible is usually around 10 or 11 hours, as staying longer can become cramped and uncomfortable.

Q: What have Victor Vescovo and his team discovered during their dives?

During their dives, Victor Vescovo and his team have discovered three or four new species on each dive. These creatures have never been seen or filmed before because these deep-sea areas have been isolated for billions of years and remained unexplored by humans. Their discoveries highlight the potential for further exploration and the existence of unknown species in these deep-sea regions.

Q: How does Victor Vescovo plan to contribute to expanding the number of people who have been to the bottom of the ocean?

Victor Vescovo plans to increase the number of people who have been to the bottom of the ocean by not only diving there himself but also by using their submersible technology to make multiple dives. If they can repeatedly dive to extreme depths and prove the technology's reliability, they can open the door to exploration for scientists and allow for more individuals to experience the depths of the ocean.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Victor Vescovo has designed and built the most advanced and deepest diving submersible in the world, which he personally pilots.

• His team aims to explore the unexplored 60 percent of the planet's oceans, using their submersible to reach any point on the ocean floor.

• The submersible, called the Limiting Factor, is a state-of-the-art vessel with a two-person titanium sphere that can withstand extreme pressure.