Ready for another adventure with your friend Sophia (that’s me!)? Imagine trying to understand a giant forest by only looking at its edge! That’s what it’s like when we think about our amazing ocean. We see the beach, the waves, and some fish wiggling near the shore. But that’s only the very beginning of its story!

The Ocean’s Deep Secrets!

Our ocean, my little explorers, is like a huge watery world, way bigger than any forest! It helps clean our air and keeps our whole planet cool, but we often forget just how big and important it is.

Usually, we only see the ocean near the coast, where the water is shallow and warm. For most of us, the ocean is a place for food and fun, a spot to swim, splash, or surf! But most of the ocean is deep, dark, and mysterious, more like a giant hidden universe. It’s cold, and the creatures that live there have special abilities (okay, adaptations) to survive!

We’re just starting to learn about these incredible deep-sea zones; scientists believe there are still lots of ocean creatures to be discovered!

The Marian Trench

The deepest part of the ocean is called the Mariana Trench, in the Pacific Ocean. The very bottom is called the Challenger Deep, and it’s about 11 kilometres below the surface. That’s deeper than Mount Everest is tall. WOW!

Imagine what it’s like down there:

• Squishy Pressure! That’s over 1,000 times the pressure you feel at sea level. That’s like 1,000 elephants standing on your head!
• Icy Cold! The temperature is above freezing. BRRR!
• Pitch Black! No sunlight gets down that far. It’s always dark, like being in a room with no lights at all!

Even though it sounds super spooky, scientists have found amazing creatures living there. They prove that life can survive in the toughest places on Earth!

Deep-Sea Heroes!

Some brave explorers have travelled all the way to the bottom of the ocean!

• In 1960, Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh became the first humans to reach the Challenger Deep in a special submarine called Trieste. That was an amazing feat!
• In 2012, movie director James Cameron (the guy who made Avatar!) took a solo trip in his submarine, Deepsea Challenger. He saw wild landscapes, strange creatures… and, sadly, plastic waste. Even down there, pollution is a problem.
• In 2019, Victor Vescovo went even deeper in a sub called the DSV Limiting Factor, breaking a new record!
• In 2020, Kathryn Sullivan became the first woman to reach the deepest point of the ocean, and she’s also been to space! Talk about out-of-this-world cool!
• In 2022, Dawn Wright became the first black person to reach the Challenger Deep. Incredible!

Try This at Home!

Want to feel what deep-sea exploring might be like?
Go into a room, turn off all the lights, and use a torch (or flashlight) to explore. What can you see? How does it feel to be in the dark? It’s a fun way to imagine the deep ocean!

Next time you fly over the sea, remember; you’re only seeing the very top. Underneath, there’s a whole universe of life, and it’s connected to you, by the air you breathe to the weather outside your window!

Dive Deeper with Fun Activities!

🪼˖ Build an Ocean Model Use play-dough or clay to make the ocean layers, from the beach to the deep, deep sea.

🪼˖ Create a Deep-Sea Creature Draw or craft a creature that lives in the deep. What does it eat? How does it glow? What cool powers would it need?

🪼˖ Learn to Swim Swimming helps you explore the sea, and it’s so much fun!

🪼˖ Read books about the deep sea These are some of my favourite:
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne. This famous book tells the exciting story of a mysterious submarine called the Nautilus, led by the secretive Captain Nemo. The book was written in 1870, and submarines had not even been invented yet! Together with a few surprised passengers, the Nautilus dives deep into the ocean, exploring coral forests, battling giant squids, and discovering sunken cities. A wild underwater rollercoaster!

The Brilliant Deep by Kate Messner. The true story of how one man (and many helpers) helped restore coral reefs!

Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea by Steve Jenkins. A stunning nonfiction book with awesome illustrations showing each layer of the ocean.

If Sharks Disappeared by Lily Williams. A fun way to learn why every ocean animal matters, even the ones with lots of teeth!

I’d love to see your deep-sea creatures or ocean models! Ask a grown-up to help you share them with Bubble Buddies Bay!

Our story is just beginning, Bubble Buddies. 
Sophia the Seahorse