We know more about the surface of Mars than we do of the ocean floor. Designed by engineer Otis Barton and zoologist William Beebe, the Bathysphere broke records in early deep-sea exploration. Locked within the cramped interior, Otis and William made their first dives in the Bathysphere in 1930 to study deep-sea organisms. The pair continued to dive, reaching a record depth of 3,028 feet (923 meters) in 1934. For nearly a century, National Geographic Explorers have dedicated their lives to studying the ocean. Below the waves, new technology pushes Explorers further into the unknown.

National Geographic Museum
Washington, DC

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