It may be interesting to see how aircraft wreckage starts to deteriorate underwater as this may help in further underwater searches around Nikumaroro in the future. Here are some images from Air France flight AF-447 lost over the Atlantic Ocean on 1 June 2009. The wreckage was eventually located on 3 April 2011 and had lain on the bottom for about 2 years...
"on 3 April 2011, a team led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution operating full ocean depth autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) owned by the Waitt Institute discovered, by means of sidescan sonar, a large portion of debris field from flight AF447.[108] Further debris and bodies, still trapped in the partly intact remains of the aircraft's fuselage, were located in water depths of between 3,800 to 4,000 metres (2,100 to 2,200 fathoms; 12,000 to 13,000 ft). The debris was found to be lying in a relatively flat and silty area of the ocean floor (as opposed to the extremely mountainous topography that was originally believed to be AF447's final resting place)"
Starting with this image of the undercarriage there are a couple of points of interest here.
1. Despite the depth of 12,000ft to 13,000ft it is interesting to note that the aircraft tyres are still in remarkable condition and can still be recognised. Yes, they look deflated and my guess is that the valves gave way first to the incredible water pressure at these depths.
2. The gear is already sinking into the "relatively flat and silty area of the ocean floor" after only 2 years.