Russian explorers dived to the bed of Lake Baikal, the world's deepest lake, on Tuesday in a display of Moscow's revived aspirations to establish new records in science. Although, initially a member of the crew and a representative of Guinness World Records in Russia both told journalists that the dive had broken the world record, organizers contradicted earlier claims saying that they did not succeed in setting a world record for the deepest submersion in fresh water.

"There was no record," expedition leader Artur Chilingarov told reporters, as quoted by the AFP. "We'll try again."

Artur Chilingarov, a scientist and Kremlin-supported member of parliament (State Duma), had the leadership of the mission to the abyss of Siberia's Lake Baikal. Chilingarov was part of a previous expedition to the North Pole that led to criticism in the West.

Hidden away in the secluded hills of southeast Siberia where Russia borders China and Mongolia, Lake Baikal, the deepest and oldest lake in the world, represents the habitat of some of the world's rarest species of fish and other aquatic life.

The mission's Mir-1 and Mir-2 twin mini-subs — used last year to plant a Russian flag on the North Pole sea bottom — were released into the rough waters just after dawn and dived 1,580 meters (5,184 feet) trying to reach the deepest point of the lake, eventually setting a world record for freshwater dive. The crew reported initially that the mission had been successful and that they had reached the depth of 1,680 meters (5,510 feet or 1.05 miles).

Each of the bright-red submersible crafts carried a number of three scientists. Chilingarov was with reporters who observed from a mission-control point situated on a nearby platform.

Russian officials saluted the expedition that lasted about five hours and has as primary objective to take samples lying on the bottom of lake and document Baikal's unique flora and fauna, as a new chapter in Russian science.

Formed 25 million years ago, Lake Baikal has 20 percent of the world's total unfrozen fresh water and, according to estimative analysis, it formed 25 million years ago.

One of its rarities is the Baikal seal, which represents a scientific mystery as it lives in a lake lying hundreds of kilometers from the closest ocean.

Russia used Chilingarov's mission to the North Pole to make a symbolic claim to the energy riches of the region believed to have enormous resources of oil and natural gas. They are expected to become more accessible once the ice cap starts melting due to the climate change.

Canada at the time jocked on the expedition and accused Moscow of displaying a 15th-century explorer's behaviour.