As NASA's Phoenix Lander is searching for signs of life on Mars, there is already a search for ancient life taking place here on Earth. Pavilion Lake, B.C. to be exact.

Researchers from the Canadian Space Agency and the University of British Columbia along with a group of NASA astronauts are using a space-age submersible to study a rare type of water coral-like structures called microbialites.

Scientists say that the structures are similar to those that they are searching for on Mars.

"These are very simple life forms that we believe are similar to the origins of life on Earth," Dr. Bernard Laval of UBC said.

Scientists believe that the origins of life on earth go back about 3.5 billion years and that at that time, the climate on Mars was similar to Earth's.

Therefore, if lifeforms like microbialites were thriving on Earth at that time, the theory is that they would be thriving on Mars.

"If we can understand how these are being formed on Earth then that will help us to design experiments to conclusively prove that the little rock you found on Mars is made in some part by life," Laval said.

The high-tech subs will descend in a couple of weeks but it will take months to study the coral. They hope that the B.C. project could be used as training for a future mission to Mars.

"Future human exploration of Mars will require astronauts who are well versed in scientific methods in addition to exploration strategies. Training opportunities that merge science and exploration goals in extreme, analog environments are crucial," the project's website explains. "(The Lake Pavilion mission) presents a unique opportunity to advance the long-term objective of human exploration of the Moon and Mars."

Pavilion Lake is about 400 kilometres north of Vancouver.

With a report from CTV's Rob Brown