What Is the Deepest Point in the Ocean?
In short: The deepest point of the oceans and of the Earth is the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, Pacific Ocean – about 10,935 metres (2021 survey; measurements vary by about ±10 m). If Mount Everest (8,849 m) stood there, its summit would be about 2 km under water.
Deepest point of each ocean
| Ocean | Deepest point | Depth (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific | Challenger Deep, Mariana Trench | 10,935 m |
| Atlantic | Milwaukee Deep, Puerto Rico Trench | 8,376 m |
| Southern | Factorian Deep, South Sandwich Trench | 7,434 m |
| Indian | Java (Sunda) Trench | 7,192 m |
| Arctic | Molloy Deep, Fram Strait | 5,550 m |
Who has reached the Challenger Deep?
- 1960: Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh in the bathyscaphe Trieste.
- 2012: James Cameron solo in Deepsea Challenger.
- 2019: Victor Vescovo in Limiting Factor during the Five Deeps Expedition; many dives followed.
The Pacific is both the largest and the deepest ocean, with an average depth of about 4,000 m.
Frequently asked questions
What is the deepest point in the ocean?
The Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, Pacific Ocean, about 10,935 m deep.
How deep is the Mariana Trench?
Its deepest point, the Challenger Deep, is about 10,935 m; older sources give values up to 11,033 m.
Who first reached the bottom?
Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh in the Trieste in 1960.
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