Exploring the depths of the ocean reveals a fascinating world teeming with diverse marine life and remarkable human achievements and adventures.
In this chart, we look at some of the usual depths inhabited by various marine creatures, from the shallow waters to the abyssal plains and down to the deepest seabed on Earth.
Additionally, I highlight some significant milestones in underwater exploration, including the depths reached by tourist and military submarines, the historic Titanic wreck, the tragic wreck of the Titan submersible, and the record-breaking descent of the Limiting Factor into the Challenger Deep.
Read the blog to see the results created as a dynamic chart in Excel, as you marvel at the mysteries and challenges of the deep oceans on Earth.
To give you an idea, here are the depths of different plains of the oceans and their names.
The deepest point in the Pacific Ocean is the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench. It reaches a depth of about 10,984 meters. This is the deepest known point in the world’s oceans, located about 200 miles southwest of Guam. Both manned and unmanned missions have reached the staggering depth of 10,934 meters in the Challenger Deep of the Mariana Trench. The manned mission was achieved by the deep-sea submersible Limiting Factor, piloted by Victor Vescovo.
Let’s take a look at the chart based on some interesting facts to-date. Click on the desired measurement unit (Meters, Feet, or Miles) to get a sense of the depths most relatable to you.
Some More Factoids
- Hawaiian tourist submarines, such as those operated by Atlantis Submarines, typically dive to depths of 30 meters (~100 feet).
- Certain deep-sea sharks, like the goblin shark, have been observed at depths of up to 1,300 meters. Some species, like the whale shark and great white shark, have been recorded diving to depths of 1,200 meters or more. Some sharks, like the great white shark, can be found in shallow waters close to the shore, typically between 6 to 100 feet deep. The deepest recorded shark dives have reached depths of around 3,000 meters. Cuvier’s beaked whales can dive to 2000 m. Deepest Cuvier’s beaked whale dive recorded to 3000 m.
- Titanic wreck is in the North Atlantic Ocean.
- Sea cucumbers: Some species of sea cucumbers are adapted to live at extreme depths.
- The Titan (deep submergence vehicle) is believed to have imploded at a depth of 3,500 meters below sea level. The wreck lies at a depth of about 3,810 meters in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Challenge Deep map image attribution: By I, Kmusser, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2502266
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this. I find these facts fascinating as well as creating dynamic, completely data-driven charts based on our discoveries and events.
You may also be interested in:
https://flyingsalmon.net/altitudes-above-earth/ (Altitudes Above Earth)
My Patreon site (and selected downloads: workbooks, solutions, codes, etc.)
▛Interested in creating programmable, cool electronic gadgets? Give my newest book on Arduino a try: Hello Arduino! 
