Mapping the Deep

Innovation, Exploration, and the Dive of a Lifetime

By: Dawn J. Wright, Kathryn D. Sullivan - foreword

Narrated by: Gwen Steel, Dawn J. Wright

Embark on an extraordinary journey into the depths of the ocean.

Oceanographer Dawn Wright made history in 2022 when she became the first Black person to visit Challenger Deep, the deepest and most unexplored place on Earth—a trip that took her over 10,000 meters beneath the Pacific Ocean’s surface. We know less about the ocean floor than we do about the surface of the moon. To date, barely one-fifth of the seabed has been mapped in high resolution. As an ocean scientist and explorer, Dawn has made it her mission to change that.

Mapping the Deep takes you on an extraordinary adventure with an extraordinary woman into the depths of Challenger Deep, showcasing the perseverance and innovation needed for ocean exploration. With a focus on Dawn’s historic dive, her personal journey, and the cutting-edge technology that made the expedition possible, this book highlights the crucial importance of mapping the ocean and its profound impact on our planet’s future. Prepare to be inspired—from the fascinating history of the area and the incredible stories of its explorers to the diverse marine life that lives within.

Through a blend of history and fascinating facts, Mapping the Deep offers a unique perspective on the challenges and triumphs of deep-sea exploration.

©2024 Dawn J. Wright and Kathryn D. Sullivan (P)2025 Esri Press

Critic reviews

"When Dawn Wright submitted her master’s thesis in the 1980s, her supervisor told her that she had no future in oceanography. Today, she is a distinguished oceanographer and chief scientist at software company Esri. In 2022, she became the first Black person to visit Challenger Deep, the deepest place on Earth’s sea bed, more than 10,000 metres below the sea surface. This charming book, written by Wright in collaboration with four Esri Press colleagues, shows how, in her words, “we can turn the unknown deep into the known deep”." -- Andrew Robinson ― Nature (a top 10 Nature 2024’s best Books in brief)

“Written lucidly and accompanied by an engaging collection of photographs, diagrams, explanatory asides and illuminating personal anecdotes, Mapping the Deep is perfect for anybody with a thirst for exploration – especially young adults looking for inspiring role models." -- Neil Simpson ― Dialogue Earth

““Deepsea Dawn,” is an oceanographer who is an authority on the mapping of the seafloor. Her new book Mapping the Deep: Innovation, Exploration, and the Dive of a Lifetime, documents not only her groundbreaking research but also her personal journey to the great ocean depths. Being the first African American and one of a handful of women to make such dives, she has broken multiple barriers and served as an inspiration to many.” – The Explorers Journal

“Mapping the Deep is a highly visual, narrative telling of the people and technologies involved in mapping the ocean floor … It places Wright’s life’s work in the context of several threads, including among key women in marine mapping and oceanography.”

(Neah Ingram-Monteiro)

Narrator sounds like AI

Amazing story about an amazing person. Had a hard time getting past the narrator though. Very much thought she was AI until I learned she wasn’t.

Amazing story

Fantastically engaging and informative. Dawn’s story is a special one. The call to action is a great one with man options!

Amazing Story Expertly Read

Gwen Steel’s narration was engaging and captivating, making an already cool adventure even moreso to experience along with “Deepsea Dawn.” Some of the “inset boxes” from the hard copy of the book, as read by Dawn Wright, seem a little out of place as you listen to the audio version, but maybe Book Buddy will release an update for this book.