NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Billionaire adventurer Richard Branson on Tuesday unveiled(揭掉……的面纱) a new single-person submarine(潜水艇) that he said will be used to set new world records by exploring the five deepest parts of the world's oceans.
Branson said that over the next two years, the solo craft will go to the bottom of the Mariana Trench(马里亚纳海沟) in the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic's Puerto Rico Trench and South Sandwich Trench, the Diamantina Trench in the Indian Ocean and the Molloy Deep in the Arctic Ocean.
Branson's fellow explorer, Chris Welsh, plans to make the first descent(下降，下沉) later this year to the Mariana Trench, which at 36,000 feet is deeper than Mount Everest is high. Branson then plans to explore the 28,000-foot-deep Puerto Rico Trench.
While the pilots for the other three trips have not been chosen, Branson said they hope to set as many as 30 Guinness World Records(吉尼斯世界纪录) with the dives(潜水).
"The last great challenge for humans is to explore the depths of our planet's oceans," the Virgin Atlantic founder said at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club.
Branson also said he plans to create a larger submarine that can hold more people and offer trips to tourists for a sizable(大量的，可观的) fee.
A news release said there was only one frontier left for Branson's Virgin brand, which has reached "the seven continents of the Earth, up into the jet stream and soon, even into space."
"If someone says something is impossible, we like to prove it's possible," Branson said. "I love learning and I'm just very fortunate to participate in these kinds of adventures."
Branson unveiled the submarine, a nearly 18-foot-long, white-and-blue airplane-like craft with stubby(粗而短的) wings and a cockpit(驾驶舱).
The carbon fiber(碳素纤维) and titanium(钛) craft will be capable of cruising for about 6.2 miles and can stay down unaided for 24 hours. The sub and its accompanying catamaran(船身) cost an estimated $17 million.