General view of the Trieste

Model of the Trieste - 11000 metres below sea level

"Deep, deeper, deepest" was for a long time as the most important target for scientific competition in deep-sea research. This episode in the history of submarines is preserved at the MEERESMUSEUM by the model of the "Trieste". This bathyscape (deep sea boat) of Jacques Piccard became legendary for reaching the greatest depth of any manned submersible. In 1960 appeared the oceanographer and adventurer dove into the Mariana Trench to the seabed at around 11000 metres below sea level. On this dive they were only concerned with handling the immense pressure conditions at high water depth. The researchers did not see a lot on that occasion through the still tiny portholes and with pale spotlights in complete darkness. 23 January 2011 marked the 51st anniversary of this sensational event.Since 1937, the father Auguste Piccard focussed on manned deep-sea diving. In 1952 construction of the "Trieste" was begun in Italy and in 1953 she was launched. The dimensions were impressive: 18 meters long, approximately 3.50 meters wide and more than 5 meters high. The submersible was named after the town in northern Italy of the same name. After initial dives at depths of more than 3000 to 4000 metres, after further design improvements the spectacular diving record was achieved in the Pacific Ocean.

In addition to Piccard, the US oceanographer Don Walsh took part in the dive. Both men were imprisoned here for nine hours in a pressure-resistant bathysphere of almost 2 metres in diameter with 18 centimetre thick walls. This was under the dive boat and, thanks to a special design, was able to withstand the highest water pressures.