Race to the bottom of the ocean: Cameron

Hollywood director James Cameron has long been passionate about ocean exploration.

He pioneered new underwater filming techniques while making The Abyss.

And for the blockbuster Titanic, he used two Russian submersibles to gather footage of the wrecked liner, which lies nearly 4,000m (13,000ft) down in the Atlantic.

Now he wants to catch the deepest part of the ocean on camera, and bring it to audiences around the world.

His submarine is called the Deepsea Challenge, and has been built by an Australian team of engineers.

It will fit just one person: the director himself.

The vessel is fitted with a 3D, high-definition stereoscopic camera, built to withstand the 1,000 atmospheres of pressure found 11km (seven miles) down, and a vast lighting array, to gather the best recording of this deep, dark spot.

The footage will form a documentary, which will be based on the dive.

Mr Cameron said: "Our goal is to build a scientific legacy for generations to come.

"It's also to inspire people across the globe to celebrate exploration and to explore with us online and through the media we produce."