The Five Deeps Expedition is sending a manned submersible vessel farther and deeper into the Earth’s oceans than ever before, and Discovery and Science channel are turning this voyage into a limited series.
The series, under the working title “Deep Planet,” will have multi-platform rollout across both Discovery and Science Channel properties, and air sometime next year.
“One thing that thirty years of Shark Week has taught us is that there are always more places to explore,” said Nancy Daniels, chief brand officer, Discovery and Factual. “No one has spent more time in the ocean than Discovery, making us uniquely suited to bring this once in a lifetime expedition to audiences around the world.”
The Five Deeps Expedition is a collaboration between investor and explorer Victor Vescovo of Caladan Oceanic, Triton Submarines, and EYOS Expeditions. A two-person deep sea research submersible has been designed specifically for this endeavor. The vessel, named the Limiting Factor, is the first commercially certified full ocean depth submersible. It will be transported and deployed into the ocean depths by the Pressure Drop, a ship retrofitted exclusively for the expedition.
The scientific mission is being led by scientist Dr. Alan Jamieson of Newcastle University.
“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,” said Vescovo, who will pilot the sub. “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.”
The mission will include dives to:
- Puerto Rico Trench (Atlantic Ocean 8,648 meters)
- South Sandwich Trench (Southern Ocean 8,428 meters)
- Java Trench (Indian Ocean 7,725 meters)
- Mariana Trench/Challenger Deep (Pacific Ocean 10,898 meters)
- Malloy Deep (Arctic Ocean 5,669 meters)
The Five Deeps Expedition is being filmed by BAFTA and Emmy winning Atlantic Productions and one of 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.”