China’s deep diving submersible has cracked the 5,000 metre depth barrier.

The 22-tonne Jiaolong (Dragon) craft is designed to dive to 7,000 metres, beyond the range of any other current submersible. According to China’s State Oceanic Administration it completed a dive to 5,057 meters yesterday.

Jiaolong already reached 3,759 metres in dives last year and its current mission is again highlighting increasing interest in the resources in the ocean depths. Japan’s Shinkai submersible is rated to 6,500 metres while Russia can reach around 6,000 with its Mir.

America is currently in the process of upgrading the venerable Alvin submersible, which is run out of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. This should mean it can go beyond its current 4,500 metres down to 6,500.

For more, see ‘China’s submersible sets sail on 5,000 metre dive test’, 05 July 2011.