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The tragic implosion of the Titan submersible during its dive to the wreck of the Titanic was so fast that the five crew members aboard 'never knew it happened

The tragic implosion of the Titan submersible during its dive to the wreck of the Titanic was so fast that the five crew members aboard 'never knew it happened
Published 4 months ago on Jun 23, 2023

The Coast Guard stated that the extensive debris found on the ocean floor, approximately 1,600 feet from the bow of the Titanic, indicated a "catastrophic implosion" that occurred after the submersible had been lost for one hour and 45 minutes into its dive, reaching a depth of 12,500 feet below the surface.

Experts explained that when communication was lost, the submersible would have been just shy of 10,000 feet below the surface, subject to immense water pressure. At such depths, even the smallest weakness, crack, or fissure in the hull would cause an instant implosion. The implosion would have occurred within a millisecond or even a nanosecond if the hull's integrity was compromised, leaving the crew unaware of the event.

Ofer Ketter, an expert and co-founder of the submersible company Sub-Merge, described the instantaneous implosion as occurring before the crew's brains could register any pain. The bodies of the five explorers, Sulaiman Dawood, Shahzada Dawood, Hamish Harding, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and Stockton Rush, are unlikely to be recovered.

The pattern of debris found on the ocean floor suggests that the submersible imploded during its descent to the Titanic wreck, shortly after losing contact with the surface. The extreme pressure at that depth, approximately 6,000 pounds per square inch, exceeds the design capabilities of the Titan's carbon fiber and titanium exterior.

Dr. Peter Girguis, an oceanographer and Harvard University professor, compared the implosion to the collapse of a scuba tank when it exceeds its pressure limit. Submersibles undergo pressure tests and are built with safety factors to withstand depths beyond what they will likely encounter. However, the exact details of implosions remain uncertain.

The investigation into the cause of the submersible's implosion is ongoing, and it is unclear if a definitive conclusion will be reached. Implosions are generally preventable with proper engineering and construction of submersibles. Crash-induced punctures leading to implosions are considered extremely rare.

The search efforts, involving ships, airplanes, and undersea technology, were extensive but ultimately resulted in the discovery of debris fields. The submersible was sealed with 17 bolts that could only be opened from the outside, adding to the solemnity of the loss. The incident has prompted reflection on how ocean exploration is approached and the safety measures in place to protect explorers.

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