The deep sea abysses are so poorly explored due to their extreme depth, difficult conditions (high pressure, total darkness, low temperature) and the high costs associated with expeditions in these inaccessible areas.
Under several kilometers of water, the pressure is so powerful that it sometimes amounts to several hundred times that felt at the surface. At these depths, just one kilometer down adds about 100 tons of pressure per square meter. Imagine placing the entire Eiffel Tower on your chest: that’s the effect these incredible pressures have on submarines and exploration equipment. Even thick steel devices, specially designed, can be crushed like aluminum cans if they are not perfectly suited. This pressure also prevents most living creatures from surviving without special adaptations such as gelatinous bodies or reinforced solid shells. The abyss is therefore truly difficult to visit without hyper-resistant and expensive equipment.
In the abyssal depths reigns a perpetual darkness. At around 200 meters below the surface, no natural light penetrates. From that point on, it is impossible to rely on sight for exploration: it is an absolute and permanent night. This total absence of light necessitates the use of artificial lighting, but even the most powerful lamps only illuminate a very small area around the equipment. As a result, it is difficult to spot anything, and nearly impossible to have an overview. Not to mention that many organisms living there have never had to adapt to light: suddenly illuminating their environment is likely to skew observations of their natural behavior.
Going into the abyss is like planning a space journey, but underwater. You need to manage oxygen supply, food, and living conditions in a place where absolutely nothing can grow or be harvested directly. Moreover, you need a sturdy ship capable of reaching the site, maintaining perfect stability, and supporting deep interventions safely. On top of that, there's the difficulty of maneuvering technical devices, often remotely operated, connected to the boat by very long cables. And these cables must withstand currents, cold, be strong enough without becoming too heavy or cumbersome. Not to mention that these expeditions often take place in very remote areas of the planet, far from any ports or infrastructure, which further complicates supply and refueling. Not easy at all, then.
Exploring the deep sea is far from cheap. Building equipment capable of withstanding extreme pressure costs a fortune! On top of that, there are specialized cutting-edge technologies, highly skilled teams, and boats equipped for deep-sea exploration. Organizing a single abyssal dive requires months of preparation, tons of expensive equipment, and let's just say that the budget can quickly become astronomical! As a result, few organizations can afford to regularly fund this kind of expedition. The few existing missions are often financed by public funds, private companies, or international collaborations, because a single organization would struggle to finance everything on its own.
Exploring the abyss is not something that can be improvised: current equipment still shows its limitations. Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and manned deep-sea submarines are rare, often difficult to navigate, and have limited autonomy. Regular radio signals do not work underwater over long distances, forcing the use of cumbersome and fragile cables for communication and remote control, which complicates matters significantly. Lighting systems must withstand enormous pressures, which is beyond the capabilities of many existing technologies and greatly limits visibility and observational capacity. In short, even today, the ideal technology for comfortably exploring the deep seabed has simply not yet been invented.
The deep seas may contain significant natural resources, such as rare minerals and potentially useful chemical compounds for medicine. However, their extraction could pose major environmental risks.
The pressure at the bottom of the oceans is such that it would be equivalent to bearing the weight of about 50 large airplanes (like a Boeing 747) resting directly on a surface the size of a postage stamp.
Although the abyssal depths are very cold and dark, they host an impressive biodiversity. It is estimated that more than 90% of the species in the deep sea remain completely unknown today.
Humans have explored a larger portion of the surface of Mars and the Moon than the ocean floor of our own planet.
Understanding the abyss is essential, as these unique ecosystems influence the global balance of the oceans. They could also provide crucial information about the origin and diversity of life, as well as potential medicines derived from abyssal species.
The deep sea is home to astonishing species such as bioluminescent abyssal fish, giant squids, and strange invertebrates adapted to total darkness, some of which remain largely unknown.
It is very complex, costly, and risky for humans to travel to these depths. Currently, only a few occasional expeditions and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) missions allow for the irregular study of these extreme marine regions.
Yes, some valuable mineral resources such as polymetallic nodules, rich in manganese, cobalt, nickel, or copper, exist in the abyss. However, their extraction poses enormous technical, economic, and environmental challenges.
The deepest point ever explored is the Mariana Trench, located more than 10,900 meters below the ocean's surface. Very few manned vessels have descended there due to the technological challenges and the extreme pressure present at those depths.
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