Marine scientist Deo Florence Onda joined American deep seaexplorer Victor Vescovo in plumbing the depths of ten-thousand-meter Emden Deep, the third deepest spot on the planet.
Onda and Vescovo reached Emden Deep aboard submersible Limiting Factor which was launched from DSSV Pressure Drop, described as the only marine vessel in the world capable of launching the deep-sea submersible
FILIPINOS have previously conquered the highest mountain on Earth - now another record was achieved as another Pinoy successfully dived deep into the Pacific Ocean's third deepest spot.
Marine scientist Deo Florence Onda joined American deep marine explorer Victor Vescovo in plumbing the depths of the Emden Deep, the third deepest spot on the planet.
The Emden Deep, located at the Philippine Trench, is approximately 10,400 meters (34,100 feet) deep.
“I am with explorer Victor Vescovo and we are at the Emden Deep in the Philippine Trench,” Onda said in a video posted on his Facebook account after the successful descent.
“I am actually very honored to be part of this trip and sa mga Pilipino, ito po ang Emden Deep, atin ito!” he added before raising the Philippine flag.
Vescovo, who had participated in other deep-sea voyages before, said they were the first humans to reach the bottom of the Philippine Trench.
“It’s a privilege to be here with you, a member of the Philippines and glad we were able to provide the vessel that allowed it to happen,” he told Onda in the video.
“The reality of diving the Emden is slowly sinking in,” Onda, a microbial oceanographer from the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI), said in a separate post on Monday.
Vescovo is a main sponsor of the Caladan Oceanic, the private organization that invited Onda to join the descent.
Onda and Vescovo reached Emden Deep aboard submersible Limiting Factor which was launched from DSSV Pressure Drop, described as “the only marine vessel in the world capable of launching the deep-sea submersible… that can carry humans and repeatedly dive to the deepest parts in the world’s oceans.”
Part of the goal, according to UPMSI, was to wave the Philippine flag in the Emden Deep and highlight that it is an integral part of the country’s heritage.
The institute also noted the opportunity for Onda to be exposed to state-of-the-art vessels capable of deep-sea activities, which can help efforts to establish the country’s own National Academic Research Fleet. (ONT/With reports from Philippine Star)
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