Beijing, Dec 21 (IANS): China will recruit six oceanauts, including two women, as the country continues its exploration of the deep sea, Beijing Daily reported Friday.
Ye Cong, chief oceanaut and designer of Jiaolong - China's deep-sea research submersible - said two females will most likely be selected from biologists.
The new recruits will receive four-years training before conducting a deep sea dive, said Ye.
The female candidates will be required to have a higher mental capacity than their male counterparts and capable of coping with pressure, Ye was quoted as saying.
From 2013, Jiaolong will increase its dives from the current several times a year to more than 50 deep-sea dives.