Check out this answer from Consensus:
Based on the current scientific consensus and detailed bathymetric surveys, the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench remains the deepest known point in the world’s oceans. While the possibility of discovering deeper sites cannot be entirely ruled out due to the unexplored nature of many oceanic regions, no existing evidence from the reviewed studies indicates the presence of any areas deeper than the Challenger Deep.
The Challenger Deep, located in the Mariana Trench, is widely recognized as the deepest known point in the Earth’s oceans, with depths exceeding 10,900 meters. This extreme environment has been the subject of numerous scientific studies aiming to understand its unique geological, biological, and chemical characteristics. However, the question remains whether there could be other areas in the ocean that are potentially deeper than the Challenger Deep.
Key Insights
- Current Consensus on Depth:
- Geological and Topographical Evidence:
- Detailed bathymetric surveys and topographic models of the Challenger Deep reveal three en echelon depressions, with the eastern depression being the deepest6. This precise mapping supports the current understanding of the Challenger Deep’s status as the deepest point.
- Comparative Depth Measurements:
- Studies using advanced sonar and acoustic methods have provided highly constrained depth estimates for the Challenger Deep, reinforcing its position as the deepest known oceanic site4.
- Potential for Deeper Sites:
- While the Challenger Deep is the deepest confirmed site, the vast and largely unexplored nature of the ocean means that other deep-sea trenches could potentially harbor deeper points. However, no current evidence from the reviewed studies suggests the existence of a deeper site2.