American Navy agrees to share with civilian scientists a fleet of deep exploratory craft, including robots and submersibles. Mir submersible investigates the seafloor. Mir submersibles dive more than two miles down and film Titianic wreckage for Canadian IMAX movie. Soviet ship Yuzhmorgeologiya, which once spied on the submarines of the United States Navy, is hired by American government to do studies of deep ecology.
Soviet Union ceases to exist.
1992 Scientists, after a large seabed survey, conclude that the deep may hold ten million species of life, far more than are known on land. A deep-sea anemone crowns a lava pillar. Ballard lowers Navy submersible Sea Cliff and Navy robot Scorpio to examine fourteen ships lost during World War Two at the battle of Guadalcanal. CIA director Robert Gates tells Russian President Boris Yeltsin that Glomar Explorer recovered remains of six Soviet sailors, who were subsequently buried at sea. American Navy adopts a new strategy in which fighting forces target shallow waters and regional conflicts, reducing the need for deep expertise.