Three Chinese oceanauts pose before conducting the 7,000-meter dive below the surface of the Pacific Ocean aboard Xiangyanghong 09, June 24, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

ABOARD XIANGYANGHONG 09 - Chinese scientists refreshed the country's dive record in a manned submersible by going to 7,000 meters beneath the sea after a successful test dive in the Pacific Ocean Sunday morning.

The Jiaolong, China's manned submersible named after a mythical sea dragon, succeeded in diving 7,015 meters below sea level at 11 am local time during its fourth dive into the Mariana Trench.

Three oceanauts, Ye Cong, Liu Kaizhou and Yang Bo, conducted the dive, which started at 7 am local time (2100 GMT Saturday) in heavy rain and with the Rafale at 6 levels.

The oceanauts had succeeded in reaching depths of 6,671, 6,965 and 6,963 meters in their previous three dives from June 15 to 22, well surpassing the record of 5,188 meters last July.

China's manned submersible, Jiaolong, is lifted before its fourth dive, the world's first 7,000-meter dive below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, in the Mariana Trench, June 24, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese oceanaut Liu Kaizhou prepares before conducting the 7,000-meter dive below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, June 24, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]