Control under 8 tons of pressure:
diving deep with James Cameron

It's a completely hostile world nearly 7 miles (10.9 km) beneath the ocean's surface. No light, temperatures just above freezing, and 16,000 lbs of pressure per square inch. That's Challenger Deep. Can anything live there? Can anyone survive the trip to find out?

Explorer and filmmaker James Cameron pulled together a diverse team from all over the world to make the first attempt in more than 50 years—the only solo dive ever. Here's a behind-the-scenes look from a key team member.