China’s newest submersible – the Fendouzhe (Striver) – has set a new dive record for the country, reaching the bottom of the western Pacific’s Mariana Trench at 10,909m.

This depth is some 18m short of the world record for the deepest dive set by American Victor Vescovo (10,927m) in the Mariana Trench in May 2019.

Fendouzhe carried three men in her record-breaking expedition, taking nearly four hours to reach the ocean floor. The dive was part of China’s strategy to explore the abundant deep-sea natural resources.