We’ve had the race into space, now we have the race to the bottom of the ocean: the Mariana Trench.
This epic journey 8 miles down into the ocean has 4 teams vying to hold the crown in this difficult technological feat.
Funding for these ventures come from private investors, film makers such as James Cameron as well as large backers like Google and Virgin.
You can read more about this race in the BBC Special Report – Race to the bottom of the ocean.