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Dubai resident becomes first man to traverse deepest place on Earth

Dubai - Only 18 people have ever dared go to this part of the world.

Dubai resident Hamish Harding on Friday pulled off what could be one of the world’s most daring feats: He dived into the Earth’s deepest — and perhaps most alien — realm, the Mariana Trench.

At 4pm, the UK explorer emerged from the depths of the trench’s Challenger Deep which — at nearly 11km deep — is equivalent to more than 13 times the height of Burj Khalifa.

Only 18 people have ever dared go to this part of the world, the deepest known point in the Earth’s seabed hydrosphere. The first submersible hit the ocean floor in 1960 and spent just 20 minutes at the bottom before ascent.

Harding, chairman of Action Aviation, took the plunge in a purpose-built DSV Limiting Factor, a two-person deep-submergence vehicle, along with famed undersea explorer Victor Vescovo. After nearly 12 hours, they re-emerged to the surface, completing an adventure that is set to make a new Guinness World Record for the ‘greatest distance travelled at full ocean depth’.

But why go to such great lengths? Harding and Vescovo were on a mission: As they traversed the ocean floor, they used their submersible’s robotic arm to collect sample specimens that will be analysed by scientists on board the accompanying expedition yacht.

Harding, 49, dedicated the historic dive to the UAE’s commitment to exploration and science. He wanted to search for evidence of human pollution at the deepest point on Earth and look for new species living nearly 11km below sea level.

Before harping on the record-breaking dive, Harding had said: “As an explorer and adventurer, I want this expedition to contribute to our shared knowledge and understanding of planet Earth...And, in searching for signs of human pollution in this remote environment, we hope to aid scientific efforts to protect our oceans and ensure they flourish for millennia to come.”

He added: “I’ve long been inspired by the spirit of adventure and exploration in my home country, the UAE, the feeling that anything is possible. I am proud to represent the UAE as the first resident from the Middle East to dive the Mariana Trench to the lowest point on Earth, the Challenger Deep.”

Throughout the ultimate adventure, the expat’s 13-year-old son, Giles, cheered him on — documenting his quest on his Instagram channel @giles.explores. At around 3.45pm on Friday, the boy, who stayed aboard the expedition yacht, posted: “So close!! Any minute now, Captain Hamish Harding will be finishing his historic desecent to the bottom of the Mariana Trench’s deepest point. After becoming the first human to traverse the entirety of the Challenger Deep, it is time to welcome Capt. Harding back to the surface of the Pacific.”

After around 12 minutes, Giles shared: “Congratulations to Captain Hamish Harding @actionaviationchairman on completing his expedition to the world’s lowest point, the #Challengedeep and becoming the first human to traverse the entire Challenger Deep.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to hear your thoughts about the journey, Captain! More information awaits as the Deep Submersible vessel is recovered.”

Giles is a student at Dubai College and will continue his remote learning from the vessel in one of the most extreme environments in the world.

saman@khaleejtimes.com