China's three deep-sea manned submersibles have completed 1,746 dives to date, the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering under the Chinese Academy of Sciences said on Wednesday.
The total number of dives is projected to surpass 2,000 next year.
The trio -- Fendouzhe (Striver), Shenhai Yongshi (Deep Sea Warrior) and Jiaolong -- is set to complete 314 dives this year alone, according to data released by the institute at a meeting in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province.
In 2025, the Jiaolong manned submersible achieved China's first manned deep-sea dive in Arctic ice-covered waters. It also collaborated with Fendouzhe to accomplish China's first dual manned submersible operation beneath the Arctic ice.
Supported by the domestically designed and developed ice-breaking manned deep-sea submersible support vessel Tansuo-3, Fendouzhe undertook China's first manned deep-sea scientific expedition in the heavily ice-covered areas of the Arctic Ocean this year.
The submersible also supported an international joint expedition to the Puysegur Trench, which is located off the southwestern coast of New Zealand's South Island, earlier this year.
Shenhai Yongshi has conducted 18 dives for deep-sea archaeological exploration on the northwest continental slope of the South China Sea this year, and worked in coordination with unmanned submersibles, contributing to new deep-sea archaeological discoveries.
China's 3 deep-sea manned submersibles have made over 1,700 dives
American actress Zoe Saldana, who portrayed Neytiri in the Avatar film series, has shared her personal journey in performing the role for the latest film, which she describes as more emotional than the previous two installments.
"Avatar: Fire and Ash" was released in the Chinese mainland and North America on December 19, after the much-anticipated sci-fi epic had its initial Chinese premiere at the 7th Hainan Island International Film Festival in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, on December 8.
Saldana discussed the film in an interview in Hainan with China Central Television (CCTV).
"It's definitely more emotional than 'The Way of Water,' more emotional than Avatar 1. It's the Sully family, not just Jake and Neytiri. They have their children. And they just buried one child. So, they are finding themselves in a place where they are having to pick up the pieces. And they don't really know what they are going to do," she said.
The themes of loss resonated deeply with her, causing her to reflect on her own blessings, she said.
"My life, in 2017, I had all of my children. And my last child was still a baby. He was only four months old. So, getting to experience such joy and happiness in my personal life, and then coming to work to embody the skin of a woman who is absolutely devastated after losing her child was really hard, but I always felt that I had the support," said the actress.
She also praised the ambition and storytelling prowess of James Cameron, writer and director of the Avatar series.
"I do believe that James' stories, though fantastical, are still very relatable. I very much can relate a lot of themes that Jim is highlighting in his film," she said.
Avatar 3 star highlights emotional depth of blockbuster film
