NBC News — "Titanic" and "Avatar" film director James Cameron has reached the deepest part of the ocean. Cameron descended nearly 36,000 feet, or a little less than seven miles, below the Pacific Ocean to the lowest point of the Mariana Trench. Cameron used a specially designed submarine called Deepsea Challenger in the historic solo dive. He is only the third person to reach that depth.

It took the 12 ton, lime-green sub 2 hours and 37 minutes to reach the bottom. Once on the bottom Cameron took pictures and collected samples for scientists to study. The expedition is a joint project by Cameron, the National Geographic Society and watchmaker Rolex.