In March 2012, Cameron piloted a one-man submersible called the Deepsea Challenger to the bottom of the Mariana Trench: The deepest part of the ocean, at 35,787 feet. His was only the second voyage down to these depths, which is part of his reason for going. The world has been explored to death. But the ocean? The way Cameron sees it, it’s the final frontier here on Earth.
His new film “Deepsea Challenge 3D” documents the director’s often-harrowing journey to make the deepest solo dive in history, an expedition that included several false starts, rough seas and the tragic loss of two crew members in a helicopter accident.
Produced by National Geographic and directed by John Bruno, Ray Quint and Andrew Wight, “Deepsea Challenge 3D” also sheds some light on Cameron’s unconventional pastime. Cameron said he finds his deepest pleasures far away from film sets, under the sea.