Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Sir Richard Branson unveils plan to pilot mini-submarine to deepest point of every ocean - 6th Apr 2011

Sir Richard Branson plans to pilot a mini-submarine to the bottom of one of the planet's deepest oceans in his latest record-breaking adventure.

The death-defying feat is part of a joint mission with an American sailor to go where no man has been before - and explore the deepest points in each of the world's five oceans in a single-seated Virgin Oceanic sub.

Announcing the project today in Newport Beach, California, the British entrepreneur and explorer said he was looking forward to learning more about 'the blue heart of the planet.'

If all goes well, the deep sea exploration will break as many as 30 Guinness world records, including the five deepest dives in history.

Sir Richard will take it in turns with U.S sailor and explorer Chris Welsh to pilot the snub-nosed submersible for five dives planned over a two-year period.

The first dive - the deepest - will take place in the western Pacific later this year.

On their journeys to the bottom of the sea, Sir Richard and Mr Welsh will spend up to 12 hours in complete darkness and freezing cold in the submarine's tiny cockpit.

It has been built to withstand the extreme pressure found 36,000 feet below the surface, which is 1,500 times the pressure exerted on an aeroplane. Read More

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