China's manned deep-sea submersible completes 300th dive

China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong is about to conduct its 300th dive in the Western Pacific Ocean, Aug. 18, 2024. Jiaolong, China's manned deep-sea submersible, on Sunday completed its 300th dive since its maiden mission in August 2009. Jiaolong, with a crew of one scientist and two submariners, conducted the dive in the Western Pacific Ocean. It was the first of 18 planned dives in an ongoing scientific expedition. Since 2009, Jiaolong has explored waters in the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, enabling a total of 900 trips down into the deep sea. (Xinhua/Wang Yuhao)

ABOARD DEEP SEA NO. 1, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Jiaolong, China's manned deep-sea submersible, on Sunday completed its 300th dive since its maiden mission in August 2009.

Jiaolong, with a crew of one scientist and two submariners, conducted the dive in the Western Pacific Ocean. It was the first of 18 planned dives in an ongoing scientific expedition.

The submersible is being carried by China's Deep Sea No. 1 research vessel, which has Chinese and foreign scientists aboard and embarked from Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province on Aug. 10.

During its 45-day expedition to the Western Pacific Ocean, Jiaolong is scheduled to collect deep-sea organisms, seawater and sediment, aiming to deepen our understanding of the unique ecosystems and environments of seamounts.

Since 2009, Jiaolong has explored waters in the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, enabling a total of 900 trips down into the deep sea.

Frogmen work around China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong after it completed the 300th dive in the Western Pacific Ocean, Aug. 18, 2024. Jiaolong, China's manned deep-sea submersible, on Sunday completed its 300th dive since its maiden mission in August 2009. (Xinhua/Wang Yuhao)

China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong conducts the 300th dive in the Western Pacific Ocean, Aug. 18, 2024. Jiaolong, China's manned deep-sea submersible, on Sunday completed its 300th dive since its maiden mission in August 2009. (Xinhua/Wang Yuhao)

Engineer Jiang Sheng (L) and Xiu Keshun make preparations for the 300th dive of China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong in the Western Pacific Ocean, Aug. 18, 2024. Jiaolong, China's manned deep-sea submersible, on Sunday completed its 300th dive since its maiden mission in August 2009. (Xinhua/Wang Yuhao)

China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong completes its 300th dive in the Western Pacific Ocean, Aug. 18, 2024. Jiaolong, China's manned deep-sea submersible, on Sunday completed its 300th dive since its maiden mission in August 2009. (Xinhua/Wang Yuhao)

This photo taken on Aug. 18, 2024 shows the cold water corals collected during the 300th dive of China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong in the Western Pacific Ocean. Jiaolong, China's manned deep-sea submersible, on Sunday completed its 300th dive since its maiden mission in August 2009. (Xinhua/Wang Yuhao)