The Titanic is one of the most famous shipwrecks in history, but it is also one of the most dangerous to visit. The sunken vessel lies at a depth of about 12,500 feet (3,800 meters) in the North Atlantic Ocean, where the water pressure is more than 6,000 pounds per square inch (psi) and the temperature is near freezing.
Despite these harsh conditions, some thrill-seekers have ventured to the Titanic site in specially designed submersibles that can withstand the extreme environment. However, these expeditions are not without risk, as the recent disappearance of an OceanGate submersible shows.
OceanGate is a private company that offers deep-sea exploration tours to paying customers. The company has been conducting dives to the Titanic since 2019, using a five-person submersible called Titan that can dive up to 13,000 feet (4,000 meters).
On June 19, 2023, Titan was on its way back from a Titanic dive with four people on board: two OceanGate crew members and two clients. The submersible was supposed to surface at a designated location and time, but it never did. A search and rescue operation was launched by the Canadian Coast Guard and other agencies, but so far no trace of Titan or its occupants has been found.
According to some experts, OceanGate may have been pushing the limits of safety and breaking the rules of diving to the Titanic. The company did not have a permit from Canada or UNESCO to visit the wreck site, which is protected as a cultural heritage site. The company also did not have a backup submersible or a support vessel on standby in case of an emergency.
Some possible scenarios that could have caused Titan’s disappearance are: a mechanical failure, a collision with an underwater object, a gas leak or fire, an implosion due to water pressure, or an entanglement with debris or fishing nets. Any of these events could have been fatal for the submersible and its crew.
The Titanic is not only a historical treasure but also a grave site for more than 1,500 people who perished in its sinking in 1912. While some argue that exploring the wreck is a way of honoring its legacy and learning from its history, others contend that it is disrespectful and destructive to disturb its resting place. The fate of Titan and its crew may serve as a reminder of the dangers and ethical dilemmas of diving to the Titanic.
