EYOS Expeditions, together with His Serene Highness, Prince Albert II of Monaco have successfully completed a dive to the deepest point in the Mediterranean Sea.
The dive to the bottom of the Calypso Deep, which took place on February 10, marks the completion of the second phase for Caladan Oceanic’s five deep diving expeditions scheduled for 2020.
The dive was piloted by explorer and Caladan Oceanic founder Victor Vescovo and was undertaken in a Triton submarine. Triton are known for making personal submarines for superyacht owners, but the specific submersible used for this occasion was a Triton 36000/2 model. The DSV Limiting Factor allowed the Monegasque Prince to dive deeper than any other head of state in history, reaching a depth of 5,109 meters. Together with HSH Prince Albert II, the team reached a newly calculated maximum depth for the Deep at 5,109 meters below surface.
“I had the honor of being accompanied on my dive by His Serene Highness, Prince Albert II of Monaco, who acted as a scientific observer during the five-plus hour dive,” commented Vescovo. Discussing what the pair had seen at the bottom of the Calypso Deep, Vescovo added: “We observed the bottom of the sea floor with evidence of marine wildlife but unfortunately, much more significant evidence of human contamination including numerous plastic bags, beverage cans, and even what appeared to be a discarded hose.”
EYOS founder Rob McCallum contributed to Vescovo's observations by stating: It is always distressing to see such evidence of manmade pollution, an indicator that the impact of humankind extends to every corner of our planet”. McCallum concluded: “Hopefully this dive can help bring more awareness to the plight of the oceans and inspire people to help drive positive change.”
The next expedition planned for Victor, the Caladan Oceanic crew and EYOS is in the Red Sea. Over the course of one week, the team will explore the unique hydrography, biology, and geology of the area.
Images courtesy of Tamara Stubbs.