Extreme 2000 scientists will begin their research expedition in the Sea of Cortés on January 12, 2000, when they depart from the port of Guaymas, Mexico. Their home for the next 11 days will be the 274-foot research vessel Atlantis. Besides containing quarters for the crew, the Atlantis carries fully equipped research laboratories, a library, and the deep-sea sub Alvin, which will be deployed almost daily on eight-hour dives once the scientists reach their first dive site. The star on the map above marks the location of the first dive of the millennium aboard Alvin. The historic dive will be made by researchers Craig Cary and George Luther of the University of Delaware on Thursday, January 13. The exact coordinates for the dive are 27° N latitude and 111° 24' W longitude. Map courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense, The World: Series 1142. Dive in to Extreme 2000! The Sea of Cortés, between the mainland of Mexico and Baja California, is the location of the Extreme 2000 deep-sea expedition. Also known as the Gulf of California, the Sea of Cortés is part of Mexico. Its beautiful blue waters boast a rich variety of sea life. Many marine mammals including California gray whales migrate here during the early winter to give birth. Extreme 2000 scientists will dive to depths of about 1.5 miles in the Guaymas Basin in the Sea of Cortés. This area of the seafloor features unique hydrothermal vent sites, where there are high levels of petroleum (oil). There's evidence that some bacteria at the Guaymas vents are able to degrade this oil into non-toxic or less toxic compounds (a process called biodegradation).