James Cameron is primarily known for his movies, such as the box office hits Titanic and the Avatar series.
But did you know that his work as a National Geographic Explorer has taken him to the deepest part of the ocean? And that he’s helped to discover many deep-sea species?
- Deep-sea explorers film massive animal drifting through darkness in South Atlantic Ocean
- What the deep-sea robots saw when they went to the darkest depths of our oceans
- It’s 2 miles deep, close to a volcano, the size of 233 soccer fields and home to a whopping 20,000 creatures
- Researchers sink listening devices 1,100m deep off the Louisiana coast and hear the sounds of an elusive animal
Who is James Cameron?
James Cameron is an award-winning film director and deep-sea explorer. His films have grossed over $10 billion worldwide, making him the second-highest-grossing director of all time.
What films has he directed?
James Cameron has directed films including Titanic, the Avatar series, Aliens, The Abyss and The Terminator series.
How old is James Cameron?
James Cameron was born on 16 August 1954.
Where is he from?
Cameron grew up in Ontario in Canada, before moving to California in his late teens.
Where does he live?
James Cameron lives on a farm in New Zealand, after seeking citizenship there.
Did he go to the Titanic shipwreck?
As part of preparations to make the film Titanic, James Cameron made several dives to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean to capture footage of the shipwreck. These would later be used in the film.
In a conversation with National Public Radio in 2012, Cameron said “I sort of joke about this, but it's more true than not, that I made the movie because I wanted to do an expedition to the wreck of the Titanic, and I did explore it.”
Did James Cameron go to the Mariana Trench?
In 2011, James Cameron became a National Geographic Explorer. In this role, he dived to the Challenger Deep (the deepest part of the Mariana Trench) with the submersible Deepsea Challenger.
He spent over three hours exploring the ocean floor and was the first person to accomplish the trip alone.
- How deep is the deepest part of the ocean?
- Giant deep-sea beasts aren’t just the stuff of legend – here’s how they got so massive
What did he discover?
When diving in the Challenger Deep, James Cameron discovered at least 68 new species – including amphipods, sea cucumbers, tens of thousands of microbes and microbial mat. The Challenger Deep took photos, video and sediment samples.
- This swimming sea cucumber looks like nothing you’ve ever seen
- This weird sea cucumber fires poisonous intestines from its butt to deter predators. Don't worry, they grow back...
Top image: James Cameron attends the Avatar: Fire And Ash photocall in Paris on 04 December 2025. Credit: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
