Sanya City, Hainan Province, south China - April 17, 2018 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of oceanic research vessel Tansuo-1
2. Various of submersible Shenhai Yongshi (literally "deep sea warrior")

FILE: China - Exact Date, Location Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
3. Various of submersible being lowered down into water, diving

Sanya City, Hainan Province, south China - April 18, 2018 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Song Jianzhong, deputy director, deputy director of the National Center of Underwater Cultural Heritage, State Administration of Cultural Heritage:
"The South China Sea accounts for two thirds of China's sea waters, or some 2 million square meters, and its depth on average is more than 1,000 meters. If we want to protect underwater cultural relics in the South China Sea, with most relics hidden in deep sea, first we need to know some basic information about the sea. It's the work we couldn't do 30 years ago."

FILE: China - Exact Date, Location Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
5. Various of divers conducting archeological missions in water

Sanya City, Hainan Province, south China - April 18, 2018 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
6. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Song Jianzhong, deputy director, State Administration of Cultural Heritage:
"We know it's a good opportunity to [carry out underwater explorations] by the use of the Shenhai Yongshi, which provides us a platform for diving."

FILE: China - Exact Date, Location Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
7. Various of scientists on board
8. Various of fish in water
9. Various of divers on board, in water

Sanya City, Hainan Province, south China - April 18, 2018 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
10. Various of meeting regarding underwater archaeology in progress

Chinese archaeologists on Wednesday morning set sail from Sanya in south China's Hainan Province aboard the oceanic research vessel Tansuo-1 to carry out the country's first deep sea archaeological mission.

Six archaeologists will board the submersible Shenhai Yongshi (Deep Sea Warrior) and complete six dives in waters off Beijiao of the Xisha Islands as part of an archaeological survey, according to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH).

The dives, ranging from six to eight hours each, will vary in depth from 50 to 200 meters, although they may dive as deep as 1,000 meters if necessary. The manned submersible is designed to reach a maximum depth of 4,500 meters.

The mission will promote the establishment of an interdisciplinary mechanism for archaeology and lay a solid foundation for better protecting underwater cultural relics, according to Song Jianzhong, deputy director of the National Center of Underwater Cultural Heritage under the administration.

"The South China Sea accounts for two thirds of China's sea waters, or some 2 million square meters, and its depth on average is more than 1,000 meters. If we want to protect underwater cultural relics in the South China Sea, with most relics hidden in deep sea, first we need to know some basic information about the sea. It's the work we couldn't do 30 years ago," said Song.

"We know it's a good opportunity to [carry out underwater explorations] by the use of the Shenhai Yongshi, which provides us a platform for diving," he added.

Vital to the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, the sea surrounding the Xisha Islands is a hub for cultural exchange for several countries. It is also important for research and protecting underwater relics left by ancient ships.

Tansuo-1 is owned by the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering (IDSSE) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

In September 2017, the IDSSE and the National Center of Underwater Cultural Heritage signed a cooperation framework agreement to promote the country's deep-sea archaeological work. A deep-sea archaeological laboratory was jointly established by the two sides in January.

In October 2017, the manned submersible completed its first deep sea testing mission off the shores of Sanya.