How Deep Can Oceans Be?

Consider the vastness of the ocean—deeper and more enigmatic than our typical perception allows. Picture a scenario where all the land from every continent and island is shaved off, the ocean's deepest points filled with this displaced land, creating a watery expanse two miles deep across the entire Earth. While three-quarters of our planet is already immersed in water, the ocean plunges even deeper than this hypothetical two-mile scenario. Embark on a journey beneath the surface to uncover the mysteries of the deep.

To grasp the scale of this aquatic exploration, imagine an average human as a mere dot, an elephant as a slightly larger dot, and the Knock Nevis—the largest ship ever built—as another dot. Now, let's submerge ourselves and delve into the hidden realms beneath the ocean's surface.

Our first stop is at 40 meters, the maximum depth allowed for recreational scuba diving. A bit deeper, at 93 meters, lies the wreckage of the Lusitania, intriguingly sinking in water shallower than its own length. The danger intensifies at 100 meters, where diving can lead to fatal decompression sickness. Nevertheless, Herbert Nitsch accomplished the free diving world record at 214 meters, a feat achieved with a single breath.

Venturing down to 332 meters, we encounter the scuba diving world record set by Ahmed Gabr. To put it in perspective, diving another 111 meters would equal the height of the submerged Empire State Building. At 500 meters, we reach the maximum dive depth of Blue Whales and the limit of the US Seawolf Class Nuclear Submarine.

Descending to 535 meters, we witness the maximum dive depth of Emperor Penguins. The intensifying water pressure, akin to a polar bear standing on a quarter, sets the stage for the unfolding mysteries below. At 830 meters—equivalent to the height of the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building—we start to enter the ominous zone.

Crossing the 1,000-meter mark, we enter the abyss where light no longer reaches, and water pressure matches that on the surface of Venus, causing swift demise. Giant Squids lurk at this depth, adding an element of terror to the darkness. Leatherback Sea Turtles reach their maximum depth at 1,280 meters, and at 1,828 meters, we approach the deepest part of the Grand Canyon, now submerged.

The journey continues to 2,000 meters, where the Black Dragonfish awaits—a creature visible only with a flashlight due to its stomach's light-blocking properties. At 2,250 meters, we reach the maximum dive depth of Sperm Whales and the formidable Colossal Squid, known for epic battles in the deep.

At 3,800 meters lies the wreckage of the RMS Titanic, and at 4,000 meters, we enter the Abyssal Zone, marked by pressure of 11,000 pounds per square inch. Alien-like creatures, including the Fangtooth, Angler Fish, and Viper Fish, inhabit these depths. The average ocean floor depth, at 4,267 meters, belies the deeper pockets yet to be explored.

Descending to 4,791 meters, we find the wreckage of the battleship Bismarck, sunk during World War II. The Hadal Zone begins at 6,000 meters, where water pressure becomes crushing, and life adapts in strange forms. The DSV Alvin's maximum dive depth is at 6,500 meters, a crucial tool in deep-sea research.

At 8,848 meters—the height of Mt. Everest upside down underwater—we enter uncharted territory. James Cameron reached 10,898 meters during the Deep Sea Challenger Mission in 2012. However, the deepest humans have ever ventured was in 1960 when Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard reached 10,916 meters in the Trieste submarine.

Dropping further to 10,972 meters, we match the average flight altitude of a commercial airliner. The journey concludes at 10,994 meters, at the Challenger Deep, the deepest known point in the ocean, 300 kilometers southwest of Guam Island. Yet, mysteries persist, with an estimated 95% of the ocean floor yet to be mapped accurately, leaving room for the discovery of even deeper realms in the future. The ocean's secrets continue to beckon us into the unknown.