Filipino scientist starts historic descent to 3rd deepest spot on Earth
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More than just setting a record, the underwater voyage aims to encourage young Filipinos to consider a career in science and value the importance of marine eco-system.
Microbial oceanographer Dr. Deo Florence Onda's date with history is on as he began his descent to the “third deepest spot on Earth”--a feat that started yesterday, March 22, until the 28th.
The scientist from the University of the Philippines (UP) was invited by the Caladan Oceanic to explore the Emden Deep - approximately 10,400 m or 34,100 feet deep--located in the Philippine Trench.
“He [is] joined in the descent by Mr. Victor Vescovo, the current record holder of the deepest manned descent in the Marianas Trench in 2019,” said the UP Marine Science Institute on Facebook.
“Mr. Vescovo is also the main sponsor of Caladan Oceanic, which is a private organization that has been setting records for deepest manned descents in the world's deepest trenches, with the most recent one in the Marianas in 2019.”
Onda and Vescovo carry the mission onboard DSSV Pressure Drop, described as the only marine vessel in the world designed to endure such mission and carry humans to the deepest parts of the world's oceans.
The mission was coordinated with the Philippine government for transparency and is regarded as a non-Marine Scientific Research (MSR) activity.
“Part of the goal is to wave the Philippine Flag in the Emden Deep during its record-setting voyage, highlighting that it is an integral part of our nation's heritage,” the UPSI mentioned.
“Dr. Onda, as the sole Filipino researcher representing the country, will also be given a unique opportunity to be exposed to state-of-the-art vessels capable of deep-sea activities, which can enrich our experiences and knowledge as the Philippines builds its own National Academic Research Fleet (NARFleet), an ongoing national project funded by the Philippine Government.”
Furthermore, the mission and its success hope to entice young Filipinos to take on science as a career.
It's also a great opportunity to highlight the importance of protecting, preserving, and conserving the rich but threatened Philippine marine eco-system.
“Deep sea expeditions like this one are equivalent to the first early flights into outer space, thus it would be a major record-setting scientific and historic achievement.
“To date, most of these records are held by foreign scientists or explorers. The Philippine Trench is a unique feature found within the EEZ of the Philippines, and it is only appropriate that a Filipino scientist be one of the first to hold this record in the Emden Deep.”
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