The Search for Endurance

Bound and his team had been planning this trip for months. They studied descriptions left by Frank Worsley, captain of the Endurance. Using the notes, Bound came up with a “Search Box,” or search area. It was an area measuring about 8 miles wide and 15 miles long. He guessed the ship had sunk somewhere in that part of the ocean.

The seafloor there is too cold and deep for divers to survive, even in special gear. So Bound brought a new submersible, called Sabertooth. A submersible is a small underwater vehicle. From the ship, Bound’s crew guided Sabertooth as it sent back photos and videos. 

Sabertooth dove deep into the Search Box. On its first few tries, it failed to find the shipwreck. But Bound was determined.

On March 5, Sabertooth dove 2 miles below the ocean surface. Suddenly, a huge object appeared. A wooden railing came into view. Then other objects became clear. There was a circular window and a wheel. It was the wreck of the Endurance!

“Endurance was sitting upright and beautiful at the bottom of the sea,” says Tim Jacob. He works with Bound and his team. “It looked like it had sunk the day before.” 

Experts think the freezing temperature of the Weddell Sea helped preserve the ship. The cold water prevented tiny creatures from eating all the wood. The ship had not rotted away. 

1. Why did Bound need a submersible?
2. What details help show that Bound and his team were determined to find the Endurance?
3. Summarize the main ideas in the section “Caught on Video.”