In the wake of the tragic Titan disaster last year, 74-year-old American businessman and researcher Larry Connor plans to dive to the Titanic wreck site. Connor, who is aiming to explore the Titanic wreckage, has requested the assistance of Patrick Leahy, co-founder and CEO of Triton Submarines, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Aiming to End Negative Perceptions of Deep-Sea Dives
For this mission, Triton Submarines will provide the Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer, a submersible capable of diving to depths of up to 4 kilometers. This depth capability is sufficient to reach the Titanic, which lies at a depth of 3,810 meters at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Connor and Leahy’s goal is not only to conduct scientific exploration of the Titanic’s remains but also to dispel the negative perceptions surrounding private deep-sea expeditions. It is important to recall that OceanGate’s Titan submersible tragically imploded during a dive to the Titanic wreck on June 18, 2023, resulting in the loss of all five people on board.
Criticism from Titanic’s Director
Among the critics of the OceanGate project was renowned director James Cameron, who helmed the film “Titanic” and has made more than 30 dives to the wreck. Cameron has expressed concerns about the responsibility and safety measures taken by modern-day explorers. He remarked, “OceanGate did not certify their submersible because they knew it wouldn’t pass. I was very skeptical of the technology used by this company. I wouldn’t have boarded that submersible.” However, the developers of the Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer emphasize that they employ a completely different and secure technology, ensuring the safety of their submersible. The vehicle costs approximately $20 million. Triton Submarines manufactures various submersible models for diving tours and supplies them to luxury tourism companies.
Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Billionaire Explorer | Larry Connor, 74-year-old American businessman and researcher |
| Submarine Used | Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer |
| Depth Capability | Up to 4 kilometers |
| Titanic Depth | 3,810 meters |
| Goals | Scientific exploration of the Titanic wreck and changing negative perceptions of deep-sea expeditions |
| Tragic Precedent | OceanGate’s Titan submersible incident on June 18, 2023, resulting in five fatalities |
| Criticism | James Cameron, director of “Titanic,” criticized OceanGate’s lack of certification and safety measures |
| Technology | Triton emphasizes using different, safer technology compared to OceanGate |
| Cost | Approximately $20 million |
| Provider | Triton Submarines, producing submersibles for luxury tourism companies |
Feel free to share your thoughts on this ambitious expedition and whether you think private deep-sea explorations should continue despite past tragedies.
