"You can only know the answer by exploring." This is a thought-provoking sentence from "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" by French writer Jules Verne.
On December 29, 2024, my country's first independently designed and built deep-sea "scientific research + archaeology" ship "Exploration No. 3" was commissioned in Sanya, Hainan. China's manned deep-sea diving capability will be expanded from the entire sea depth to the entire sea area.
The deep sea is a place that is difficult for humans to reach. From a global perspective, deep-sea manned diving is an insurmountable barrier.
The latest manned deep-sea diving "report card" shows that up to now, my country's manned submersibles have made a total of 1,433 dives. According to information released by the National Deep Sea Base Management Center and the Institute of Deep Sea Science and Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the "Deep Sea Warrior" alone has made 132 dives in the past year. This has written a new history for China's manned deep-sea diving, and also indicates that my country's manned deep-sea diving operation and maintenance level has ranked among the top in the world.
The light of dreams will not be obscured even in the deepest ocean.
From the 7,000-meter-class "Jiaolong", to the 4,500-meter-class "Deep Sea Warrior", and then to the "Fendouzhe" that set a record depth of 10,909 meters, my country's manned deep-diving capabilities have continued to break through, its technological iteration capabilities have rapidly improved, and the story of conquering the deep sea continues to be written.
What attracts China's deep-sea diving warriors to work so hard?
About 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by oceans, but there are countless mysteries to be solved.
The deep sea abyss was once considered a "forbidden zone" for marine scientific research. The huge water pressure, extremely low temperature, and complex environment make people afraid to venture into the deep sea. The Mariana Trench, the deepest place on Earth, cannot be filled even if Mount Everest is moved there. The pressure required to dive 10,000 meters deep is equivalent to 2,000 adult elephants stepping on a person's back.
In the depths of the ocean, countless unknown lives are hidden, performing the miracle of survival in the most primitive way. The vast seabed is rich in minerals and magical landforms.
Aiming at "entry, exploration and development", marine science and technology must be self-reliant and independent, and Chinese submersibles continue to unlock the "Chinese depth".
In the past three years, more than half of the world's manned deep-sea submersibles have been completed by China! Ye Cong, director of the China Ship Science Research Center and chief designer of the "Struggler", has been deeply involved in and witnessed the process of China's manned submersibles from scratch to becoming increasingly powerful.
"Only by understanding the ocean can we better develop and protect it. To get answers from science and technology, we must strengthen our ambition and backbone." Ye Cong said that after experiencing dangerous situations such as the submersible "losing contact" with the mother ship, electrical insulation failure, the sudden breakage of the robotic arm oil pipeline, and being covered by a large amount of sediment, it took countless sweat and hardships to tackle the "hard bone" of developing a manned submersible.
In 2012, the Jiaolong successfully dived beyond the predicted depth, and my country began to master the technology of manned deep-sea diving.
In 2017, the "Deep Sea Warrior" successfully passed the acceptance inspection, achieving independent core technology and localization of key equipment.
In 2020, the "Fendouzhe", built by nearly 100 research institutes, universities and enterprises and nearly 1,000 scientific researchers, reached the Mariana Trench, the "fourth level of the Earth", and landed at the bottom of 10,909 meters!
The extremely harsh deep-sea environment tests the submersible's pressure resistance, control performance, and communication system, all of which are world-class scientific and technological challenges.
Innovation means to break through the desperate situation and make breakthroughs in the system and mechanism. In the eyes of Chinese researchers, "powerful weapons of a great power" must not only be manufactured, but also used well. Key technologies "escort" deep diving, and the ability to enter the deep sea can be stronger.
Facing the world's scientific and technological frontiers, from the 863 Plan, support plans, to key R&D plans; from the "Jiaolong", "Deep Sea Warrior", to the "Fendouzhe", all are key tasks supported by national science and technology plans.
In the face of challenges, we have gathered high-tech forces from land and aerospace to go to the sea and form a large-scale collaborative deep-sea scientific and technological innovation system. The localization rate of the "Fendouzhe" exceeds 96.5%, vividly interpreting the huge advantages of the new national system.
There are no flowers or applause on the vast ocean. Facing the "dilemma that cannot be found in textbooks", every deep-sea dive is a struggle with nature and the soul.
Long voyages at sea can often last dozens or even hundreds of days, with crew members pulling ropes, carrying instruments, lifting equipment, and drilling in the rig every day. Before each dive, the submersible must be repeatedly troubleshooted, inspected, and maintained, even working all night to ensure that every part fits perfectly. From entering the water to surfacing, the divers and scientists huddle in the narrow manned cabin the entire time, for up to a dozen hours.
The high frequency of diving operations and the deployment of recovery equipment make every day at sea a severe challenge. Even experienced personnel may suffer from seasickness and exhaustion in severe sea conditions.
The risks of working at sea have never disappeared: if a submersible encounters a serious accident or surprise, it will be a difficult battle to surface; if a research vessel has an electrical leak and catches fire, it may even be abandoned; in the face of typhoons and huge waves, the research team must fight against them.
Why fear danger? One dive a day, three dives in two days, six dives in four days... Dreams and missions drive my country's deep-sea divers to continuously create intensive diving, nighttime deep diving and other modes.
In 2024, my country completed the first manned deep-sea scientific expedition to the Java Trench, the first manned deep-sea scientific expedition to the Atlantic Ocean, and the first international scientific expedition to the Western Pacific Ocean. So far, traces of my country's manned deep-sea operations have been left in the world's eight major deep-sea trenches.
China's breakthrough in manned deep-sea diving is a feat that will promote the progress of the world's deep-sea undertakings.
Dare to be the first! The critical stage of "from 0 to 1" is the journey of the lone brave. The participants in the research and test overcame the obstacles of multiple typhoons and experienced countless tests of stormy waves. More than 1,400 manned deep dives have been carried out, striving to turn "impossible" into "definitely possible", and the story of conquering the deep sea continues to be written.
Unremitting deep diving! According to the information from the Institute of Deep Sea Science and Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, my country has established a deep-sea science discipline system, which has filled many scientific research gaps in the marine field, promoted the progress of new processes, new technologies and new materials, forged a tenacious team of divers, and helped achieve the leap from "following" and "running side by side" to "leading" in deep-sea technology and equipment.
Today, the entry of "Exploration-3" into the fleet will support our country in creating more new world records in manned deep-sea diving and scientific research.
These "unsung heroes" of deep diving will also enter more sea areas, abysses and deep seas in the polar regions, and leave the Chinese mark in human understanding, protection and development of the ocean.
Heading into the deep sea! The most exciting exploration is always next time!