Graphic: searching for MH370 in the oceans’ hidden depths

As the search for MH370 enters its second month, there is still no trace of a 300-tonne aircraft with a wingspan of 60 metres, or its 239 passengers and crew. Just why are the world’s oceans such a forbidding place to search?

Australian navy vessel Ocean Shield is berthed at Fleet Base West near Perth as it replenishes its supplies and conducts routine maintenance on May 5, 2014 before returning to the search area for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. Officials said on May 5 it could be up to two months before new, more sophisticated equipment will be in the water to help search efforts. Greg Wood / AFPShow less

Somewhere in the depths of the southern Indian Ocean lies the answer to the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370. As the search enters its second month this week, there is still no trace of a 300-tonne aircraft with a wingspan of 60 metres, or its 239 passengers and crew. Just why the world’s oceans are such a forbidding place to search becomes clear here. The presumed location of MH370, remote as it is, is not even close to being in the deepest and darkest part of what is sometimes called “Earth’s last frontier”.