Are you curious about what lies beneath the icy depths of the Atlantic Ocean? If so, you may be interested in learning about the incredible opportunity to explore the Titanic, a shipwreck that was once thought to be impossible to reach. But what does it take to dive down to the shipwreck? Each dive begins with an information session, followed by a 90-minute descent to the Titanic site. During this time, divers search for bioluminescent life forms. Once they reach the shipwreck, they'll spend about three hours exploring.
With the help of the submersible's bright exterior lights, divers can observe areas such as the bow section of the ship (the most impressive part of the wreck, according to OceanGate), the area where the grand staircase was located, and the remains of the bridge. They can also explore the debris field where centuries-old artifacts are scattered along the ocean floor. After three hours of exploration, teams embark on a 90-minute climb back to the surface. It's impossible to calculate how many tanks would be needed for a dive on the Titanic, but it would be too many for it to be a sensible and safe option.
Mission specialists must complete a training dive mission before joining one of these expeditions. In 2012, James Cameron completed 12 dives on the Titanic and shot as many images as possible for his blockbuster 1997 film. Many people think that you could jump from a submarine to avoid bringing air tanks down with you, but this isn't possible due to water pressure. The Titanic is located in 12,500 feet of icy Atlantic Ocean and humans can only dive between 400 and 1000 feet due to water pressure.
This weekend marked the world's first attempt to dive on the Titanic and it was successful! George, who was overseeing the dive from a surface support ship, said that a huge cloud of bubbles rose to the surface and nearly sank their vessel. If you're interested in joining these deep-sea research missions, you must submit an application and be interviewed before being approved for dives. Participants will also be asked to help process and review images and footage from their dives and contribute to a detailed review and analysis of data.
