Chinese scientists completed a dive in the Jiaolong manned submersible in the South China Sea on Monday, marking a good start to the vessel's trial mission and its first dive this year.

The Jiaolong was unloaded from the Xiangyanghong 09 oceanographic vessel and began its dive at around 10 am, returning to the vessel at around 4:30 pm.

The submersible and its crew of three dove to a depth of about 1,400 meters during the dive.