Russian President Vladimir Putin, known for his high profiled displays of his athleticism and wanderlust, has now ridden a mini submersible down to the depths of the Black Sea. Putin, who did this during a three-day visit to recently annexed Crimea, descended into the briny deep as part of a Russian Geographical Society expedition.

As reported by RT, the 62-year-old Russian leader told journalists that he was able see the remains of an ancient vessel, as well as some relics that were several centuries old. According to Russian officials the remains of the Byzantine ship that Putin espied were discovered by members of a dive club in Rostov-on-Don back in May.

“The galley was quite hard to see, as it was covered with 40-cm of ooze, but the ship is supposedly 27-30 meters long, and 13-15 meters wide,” Putin told journalists. “There are many objects, like amphorae, just scattered around there.”

At a press conference Putin put forth the possibility that he would likely make the plunge again, but this time in just a diving suit.

The Russian Geographical Society was founded in 1845 by Emperor Nicholas I as an organization meant to explore the territories of the country. These days it is primarily involved in expeditions, research, and education, as well as nature conservation. Putin congratulated the Russian Geographical Society on its 170th anniversary, saying that his trip had brought to mind for him “how deep our historical roots lie, how deep our history of relations with the whole world is.”

Expeditions, such as the one he was just involved in, are essential, he said, to understanding how Russia’s national identity was established.

The Kremlin has provided a slideshow of photos showing Putin boarding the vessel. 

As the BBC reports, the Kremlin said Putin's three-day trip to Crimea is meant to promote tourism.