Seven miles beneath the waves

[naomi24]

In a specially designed craft, James Cameron recently completed a descent to the sea bed in the deepest part of the ocean. This was the second such expedition to be undertaken, and Richard Branson is now planning a third.

As a recreational scuba diver, I find the undersea world beautiful and, indeed, fascinating, and I'm all for exploration of the unknown, but I simply couldn’t do what these people do. I’d be terrified! It would be far too much water above my head for comfort.

Would you do it?

[RATTER15]

I think I would do it knowing it had been tried and tested.

[d9f1c7]

Yes I'd do it, I'd also love to get into space.

[wildwood]

Oh naomi, the undersea world. What a beautiful part of our planet. I haven't had the opportunity yet, but scuba diving is on my to-do list in the not too distant future.
The Missus lives in fear when we go on holiday and we are anywhere near a sea aquarium complex. Nowadays the viewing windows are 8' high so it is just like being there. I spend hours watching so she always brings a book.

It is purely theoretical of course, but imagine seeing sea creatures in the Mariana Trench that may never have been seen by anyone else.

[237SJ]

Would I do it? Absolutely no way. Unless I was a self-publicist like Branson. I would be happy to go way up into the sky/atmosphere though.

[MarkRae]

^^

What's the difference? If the protective layer ruptures at seven miles beneath the ways or seven miles above them, you're a goner...

[237SJ]

I`d rather die by suffocation than drowning. Just my personal preference.

[Sir Alec]

I'm sure that the wildlife at the bottom of the Mariana trench is wonderful, but I would rather go into space, actually leave the planet and look down. I can't imagine how wonderful that would be.

[trt]

We seem to know more about outer space planets, galaxy's million of miles away than we do 7 miles under the sea on our own planet!!!!!

I would love to see what they discover in the unknown beneath the waves.

[237SJ]

I agree trt. My Mum used to say that if the seas were to dry up, we could see some amazing sights. I think she was right.

[naomi24]

Wildwood, looking at sea life in a tank is lovely, but bears no comparison to getting in amongst it. The Red Sea is my favourite place. It's just like being in an enormous crystal clear tank full of creatures in such a vast assortment of sizes, and so astonishingly colourful, I always think they could have been created by Disney! Must admit, I'm only a warm water diver though. I don't do it in this country. Brrrr.....

My husband, on the other hand, (a PADI instructor in his spare time) dives anywhere – even under the ice in Scandinavia! He’d do the 7 mile trek without hesitation! Potty! I couldn’t do any of that, but I'd jump at the chance to go into space. I'd love to see the earth from the moon.

Back to the question.

Apparently there are creatures there that we've never seen, but since it's so pitch dark that far down, it isn't teeming with colourful life. I bet some of it looks pretty peculiar though!

[RATTER15]

I think I would sooner take my chances under water than out in space and whilst im sure that seeing the earth from so far away would be amazing, ive never actually been that interested in it, and being that far up above the world you never know who you might bump into :)

[naomi24]

Cor, bumping into someone would be even more exciting! Where do I book my ticket?

Oo-er... no, hang on. Sigourney Weaver's 'Alien' just popped into my head, Scrub that last question. :o/

[heathfield]

When are the videos of the interesting creatures he says he saw going to be released? Haven't seen anything of what little is being shown on the web.

[naomi24]

I understood that he was making a film about it - but I could be wrong.

[emmie]

never, i can't swim...

[rowanwitch]

We are all sure to die...doing it in an interesting manner is quite appealing

[joggerjayne]

It would be a quick way to go.

If the housing ruptured, you woldn't drown ... you'd be crushed almost to nothing in a tiny fraction of a second.

I'm not sure I'd have the guts to do it, though.

I'm an Instructor too (BSAC), but the diving here is rubbish. You need to go west a bit, to Poole, Weymouth, etc.

[naomi24]

Ha ha! An ability to swim wouldn't do you much good that far down, Em. :o)

[murraymints]

to quote Brer Rabbit...never in a month of Sundays !!!

[emmie]

tongue in cheek... i can swim, but not well.