New York’s American Museum of Natural History had an unusual visitor this week: Academy Award-winning director James Cameron and his Deepsea Challenger submarine, which was parked outside of the museum to promote his new film, Deepsea Challenge 3D, in theaters Friday.

As reported by Time Out, the bright green one-man vessel was specially designed by Cameron and his team to withstand the pressures of the deepest ocean. The Deepsea Challenger is the only submersible vessel to successfully journey down to Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, which, at almost 36,000 feet below sea level, is the ocean’s deepest point.

Cameron’s love for oceanography and work on Deepsea Challenge 3D has put the director’s other projects, such as the eagerly awaited sequel to 2009’s Avatar, on the back burner. The documentary film chronicles the sub’s design, development, and successful pioneering study of the mysterious depths of the Trench. Cameron ultimately piloted the sub himself during the two-hour, record-breaking journey to the bottom of the ocean and the six hours of exploration that followed.

For those who missed the sub during its brief visit, it’s worth noting that Cameron is still hanging around the city and will be giving a talk at the Apple Store in SoHo this evening at 5 p.m.

If seeing a real life submarine leaves you longing for an underwater excursion, you may want to consider checking out DIVE, Jana Winderen‘s sound art installation and simulated aquatic journey through New York’s Park Avenue Tunnel, on view the next two Saturdays as part of Summer Streets (see artnet News report).

Watch the trailer for James Cameron’s Deepsea Challenge 3D: