Which vehicle carried James Cameron on his 2012 solo descent to Challenger Deep?

Deepsea Challenger carried James Cameron on his 2012 solo descent to Challenger Deep.

On 26 March 2012, Canadian filmmaker and explorer James Cameron descended alone in Deepsea Challenger to the deepest part of the Mariana Trench. The expedition reached approximately 10,908 metres below sea level, making Cameron the first person to complete the descent alone and the first solo visitor to the site.

The vehicle was designed and built in Australia with support from engineers, scientists and technicians. Its vertical configuration allowed it to descend rapidly, while a pressure-resistant pilot sphere protected Cameron. Cameras and scientific equipment collected images and samples from the seafloor.

Deepsea Challenger’s dive followed the 1960 descent of Trieste, which carried Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh. The two missions are related but different: Trieste made the first crewed descent, whereas Deepsea Challenger made the first solo descent. The 2012 expedition also gathered material for scientific study rather than serving only as a record attempt.