Article Posted on : - Apr 09, 2011

NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA (AP): Billionaire adventurer Richard Branson has announced that he plans to travel to the deepest parts of the world's oceans in a single-person submarine.

Branson and fellow explorer Chris Welsh will take turns over the next two years piloting the solo craft to the bottom of the Mariana Trench 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.

Welsh plans to make the first descent 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 Puerto Rico Trench.

"Man has not explored our ocean," the Virgin Atlantic founder said in an interview at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club.

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 wings and a cockpit.

The carbon fibre and titanium craft will be capable of cruising for about 6.2 miles and can stay down unaided for 24 hours.

Branson said his so-called Virgin Oceanic adventure will have a scientific purpose as well and he is working with various ocean research groups.

The submarine originally was commissioned by Branson's close friend and fellow adventurer Steve Fossett, who died in 2007 while flying a plane over the Sierra Nevada.

Fossett had intended to complete the first solo dive to the Mariana Trench, Branson said.