ft on 15 November 1959. The series included a record deep dive to near the bottom of the Nero Deep in the Mariana Trench at 24000 ft, and finally culminated with a trip to the bottom of the Challenger Deep at 35797 ft, on 23 January 1960.

The project name was proposed by oceanographer Dr. Robert S. Dietz in early 1958, as plans to modify the Trieste bathyscaphe to go to the deepest part of the oceans were being contemplated. It is in reference to ocean life