Unveiling the mysteries of the Kermadec Trench
Investigation area of the first China–New Zealand joint dive expedition to Kermadec Trench and representative species of benthic fauna
On October 29th, 2022, scientists from China and New Zealand left Auckland on board the R/V Tansuoyihao to use, for the first time, the full-ocean-depth human-occupied vehicle (HOV) Fendouzhe to systematically explore the Kermadec Trench. The first 1-month-long leg of the voyage was successfully completed on November 25th, 2022. The HOV Fendouzhe conducted 16 dives between 5747 and 10 010 m in depth, with five dives exceeding 9000 m and two dives to the Scholl Deep, the deepest point of the Kermadec Trench.
