By Alysha Bohanon
Hollywood director James Cameron plunged nearly seven miles down to the deepest point in the ocean Sunday in a submarine of his own design, news sources report.
Cameron is financing the multimillion dollar expedition himself, along with National Geographic and Rolex. He is the first person to venture that deep in 52 years, according to the New York Times.
Cameron spent seven years secretly planning the expedition with a team in Australia. His submarine is a sleek, 24-foot-long and 43 inch wide craft known as the Challenger Deep, the New York Times reported.
The National Geographic Society said he reached the bottom at 5:52 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, according to the New York Times.
Cameron said that this voyage was a "dream come true," according to BBC News. He said, "I grew up on a steady diet of science fiction at a time when people were living a science fiction reality," he was quoted.
Cameron's craft is equipped with cameras and recording devices. The filmmaker plans to make at least two movies: a 3-D production for wide-screen theaters, and a National Geographic TV special, according to the New York Times.
The craft also has robotic arms, allowing Cameron to collect samples of rocks and soils. A team of researchers will work to identify any new species he encounters, according to BBC News.
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