Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh submarine: What did Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh see?

After reaching the deepest part of the ocean, Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh spotted a “halibut-looking flat fish scurrying along the floor”, when they looked outside the small observation window.

Don Walsh Career

Don Walsh was a distinguished oceanographer and former naval officer, who had a remarkable career marked by pioneering contributions to marine science and exploration.

Walsh was best known for his historic dive to the Challenger Deep, the deepest point in the Earth’s oceans, on January 23, 1960.

Alongside Swiss oceanographer Jacques Piccard, he descended to the Challenger Deep aboard the bathyscaphe Trieste, reaching a depth of about 35,798 feet (10,911 m) in the Mariana Trench.

This groundbreaking dive significantly advanced our understanding of the ocean’s depths.

Beyond his historic dive, Walsh has held various positions in oceanography and served in the U.S. Navy.

His career reflects a dedication to advancing marine science and exploration, contributing to the broader knowledge of the world beneath the ocean’s surface.

Don Walsh’s legacy endures as a pioneer in deep-sea exploration and a key figure in expanding our understanding of the Earth’s oceans.

Walsh passed away on November 12, 2023, at the age of 92.