History was made this week by Prince Albert II of Monaco, who reached the deepest part of the Mediterranean Sea, known as the Calypso Deep, with explorer Victor Vescovo. This is only the 2nd time an expedition has reached the bottom of the Mediterranen Sea.
The French were the first to reach the bottom in 1965, in an expedition lead by Captain Gérard Huet de Froberville (French), Dr. Charles “Chuck” L. Drake (USA), and Henri Germaine Delauze (French).
Prince Albert joined the Caladan Ocean expedition team, led by Victor Vescovo in Greece.
At Kalamata, the Sovereign boarded the research vessel DSSV Pressure Drop for the descent. The dive was made aboard a submersible, built by Triton Submarines called the Triton 36000/2 equipped with a sonar system allowing it to get to the absolute bottom of the ocean.
The trip started at 8:50 a.m. and the depth of -5117m was reached at 11:12 a.m., with a return to the surface at 2 p.m.
On February 10th Victor Vescovo and Prince Albert of Monaco reached the deepest point of the Mediterranean. Prince Albert made history as the first Monegasque to do so.
