So - interesting, turns out it is done, and in this very area too. I read the 1960 report of their dive[1], linked to in the parent article. And it talks about

So - interesting, turns out it is done, and in this very area too. I read the 1960 report of their dive[1], linked to in the parent article. And it talks about "800 TNT explosions" preceding their dive in the Trieste. [1]http://www.deepseachallenge.com/the-expedition/1960-dive/ http://www.deepseachallenge.com/the-expedition/1960-dive/