As of December 25, 2025, the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering under the Chinese Academy of Sciences reported that the Chinese mainland's three deep-sea manned submersibles – Fendouzhe, Shenhai Yongshi and Jiaolong – have completed a combined 1,746 dives.
This year alone, these vessels have logged 314 missions, marking a surge in deep-sea exploration activity. The figure was disclosed at a meeting on Wednesday in Sanya, Hainan Province.
Fendouzhe led a groundbreaking expedition into heavily ice-covered regions of the Arctic Ocean earlier in 2025, becoming the first Chinese mainland manned submersible to navigate such extreme conditions. It later joined an international scientific team in the Puysegur Trench off New Zealand’s South Island, collecting vital geological and biological data.
Shenhai Yongshi focused on deep-sea archaeology in 2025, conducting 18 dives along the northwest continental slope of the South China Sea. Working alongside unmanned vehicles, it helped uncover new shipwrecks and ancient marine artifacts, offering fresh insights into historical trade routes.
Meanwhile, Jiaolong maintained steady operations, supporting biodiversity surveys and geophysical studies at depths exceeding 7,000 meters.
With each dive, these submersibles push the boundaries of underwater research, generating data that drives advancements in climate science, marine biology and geology. Their journeys highlight the Chinese mainland's commitment to innovation and international collaboration in exploring the ocean’s final frontiers.
Looking ahead to 2026, the institute plans deeper missions and expanded partnerships to map uncharted trenches and study vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems under climate stress.
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China's deep-sea manned submersibles have made over 1700 dives to date
cgtn.com
