“Another summer, another trip to the bottom of a sea for Russia's adventure-loving president. Vladimir Putin climbed into a three-seat submersible craft Tuesday to check out an ancient sunken ship found recently in the Black Sea off the coast of Crimea – the peninsula annexed by Russia last year from Ukraine. He descended 83 meters (272 feet) to see the remains of the Byzantine trading ship, which he said dated back to the 9th or 10th century. On previous trips deep underwater, Putin has explored the Gulf of Finland and Lake Baikal in submersibles. He also went scuba diving in the Kerch Strait that connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov, where he brought up fragments of ancient Greek jugs, or amphorae, that his spokesman later admitted had been planted. Speaking by radio to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev while still under water, Putin said he hoped the trading ship would shed light on Russia's development and show “how deep our historical roots are”.

He told Medvedev he should have come along. “It's great, there are lots of objects, amphorae scattered around”, Putin said. He ended the chat with a casual “Big hug!”. Off the vessel, Putin was greeted by Medvedev, who did give him a hug, and also by his chief of staff and defense minister. They were among the many Russian officials who accompanied him on this week's trip to Crimea. Pressed by a reporter whether it was wise to spend money on such ventures when Russia's economy is struggling through a painful recession, Putin said his dive should help attract publicity and donors to the important work being done by the Russian Geographical Society to study “how our state was built, including in this region”. – Nataliya Vasilyeva via The Associated Press

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) is seen inside a research bathyscaphe while submerging into the waters of the Black Sea as he takes part in an expedition near Sevastopol, Crimea, August 18, 2015. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/Reuters/RIA Novosti/Kremlin)

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) is seen inside a research bathyscaphe while submerging into the waters of the Black Sea as he takes part in an expedition near Sevastopol, Crimea, August 18, 2015. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/Reuters/RIA Novosti/Kremlin)

Russian President Vladimir Putin (front) is seen inside a research bathyscaphe while submerging into the waters of the Black Sea as he takes part in an expedition near Sevastopol, Crimea, August 18, 2015. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/Reuters/RIA Novosti/Kremlin)

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) looks through a window of a research bathyscaphe while submerging into the waters of the Black Sea as he takes part in an expedition near Sevastopol, Crimea, August 18, 2015. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/Reuters/RIA Novosti/Kremlin)

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) listens to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (L) after submerging into the waters of the Black Sea inside a research bathyscaphe as part of an expedition near Sevastopol, Crimea, August 18, 2015. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/Reuters/RIA Novosti/Kremlin)

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) walks after submerging into the waters of the Black Sea inside a research bathyscaphe as part of an expedition near Sevastopol, Crimea, August 18, 2015. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/Reuters/RIA Novosti/Kremlin)

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with journalists after submerging into the waters of the Black Sea inside a research bathyscaphe as part of an expedition in Sevastopol, Crimea, August 18, 2015. Putin on Tuesday blamed the Ukrainian government for the latest upsurge in fighting between Kiev forces and Russia-backed rebels in east Ukraine. (Photo by Alexei Druzhinin/Reuters/RIA Novosti/Kremlin)

Russian President Vladimir Putin (front) is seen inside a research bathyscaphe while submerging into the waters of the Black Sea as he takes part in an expedition near Sevastopol, Crimea, August 18, 2015. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/Reuters/RIA Novosti/Kremlin)

Russian President Vladimir Putin walks before submerging into the waters of the Black Sea inside a research bathyscaphe as part of an expedition near Sevastopol, Crimea, August 18, 2015. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/Reuters/RIA Novosti/Kremlin)

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with journalists after submerging into the waters of the Black Sea inside a research bathyscaphe as part of an expedition in Sevastopol, Crimea, August 18, 2015. (Photo by Alexei Druzhinin/Reuters/RIA Novosti/Kremlin)

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) walks after submerging into the waters of the Black Sea inside a research bathyscaphe as part of an expedition near Sevastopol, Crimea, August 18, 2015. (Photo by Alexei Druzhinin/Reuters/RIA Novosti/Kremlin)

Russian President Vladimir Putin (2nd R) meets with journalists after submerging into the waters of the Black Sea inside a research bathyscaphe as part of an expedition in Sevastopol, Crimea, August 18, 2015. (Photo by Alexei Druzhinin/Reuters/RIA Novosti/Kremlin)

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L, front) meets with people after submerging into the waters of the Black Sea inside a research bathyscaphe as part of an expedition in Sevastopol, Crimea, August 18, 2015. (Photo by Alexei Druzhinin/Reuters/RIA Novosti/Kremlin)

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C), accompanied by Defence Minister and President of the Russian Geographical Society Sergei Shoigu (R), meets with journalists after submerging into the waters of the Black Sea inside a research bathyscaphe as part of an expedition in Sevastopol, Crimea, August 18, 2015. (Photo by Alexei Druzhinin/Reuters/RIA Novosti/Kremlin)

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R, front), accompanied by Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko (2nd R) and Sergei Shoigu, visits the restored historical Konstantinovskaya casemated battery, a fortified cannon position for guarding the bay, in Sevastopol, Crimea, August 18, 2015. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/Reuters/RIA Novosti/Kremlin)

Russian President Vladimir Putin (2nd R), accompanied by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (3rd R), head of the presidential administration Sergei Ivanov (3rd L), Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko (L, back) and Sergei Shoigu (L, front), visits the restored historical Konstantinovskaya casemated battery, a fortified cannon position for guarding the bay, in Sevastopol, Crimea, August 18, 2015. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/Reuters/RIA Novosti/Kremlin)

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L), accompanied by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (R) and head of the presidential administration Sergei Ivanov (back), visits the restored historical Konstantinovskaya casemated battery, a fortified cannon position for guarding the bay, in Sevastopol, Crimea, August 18, 2015. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/Reuters/RIA Novosti/Kremlin)

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R, front), accompanied by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (C), visits the restored historical Konstantinovskaya casemated battery, a fortified cannon position for guarding the bay, in Sevastopol, Crimea, August 18, 2015. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/Reuters/RIA Novosti/Kremlin)

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R), accompanied by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (L, front), head of the presidential administration Sergei Ivanov (R, back), Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko (C, back) and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, visits the restored historical Konstantinovskaya casemated battery, a fortified cannon position for guarding the bay, in Sevastopol, Crimea, August 18, 2015. (Photo by Alexei Nikolsky/Reuters/RIA Novosti/Kremlin)