Tourist submersible missing on visit to Titanic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can dolphins swim that deep?

No

What about an orca? I'm not saying this would work, but we won't know for sure unless we try.

you are joking right??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A vehicle the size of a mini-van with a bottle and Ziploc bags for a toilet. Viewing portal tested to 1400 meters’ depth and they were going down 14,000 feet. Controller made from a GameBoy.

The level of delusion involved in boarding this craft is shocking. It’s hard not to see it as a form of suicide.

But one guy had gone down to the site 35 times, and lived to tell the story. So...no.

(I think it was reckless, but their intentions were not suicidal!)

I agree that these were likely not folks who would have died by some other means of suicide had they not gotten into this vehicle. But there are limits to human capabilities in nature, and the fact that one is paying $250k to test them doesn’t mean that the limits are nonexistent. That’s delusion.

I see it as being a lot like guided Everest climbs by inexperienced climbers. Very unfortunate.

The Simpsons writer who went on one of the successful dives has an interesting take on it. He basically said they're dead without saying they're dead, but also added:

The company has taken tourists to the site since 2021, and Mr Reiss was one of a number of groups who made the perilous journey last year.

'Somehow there's just the acceptance of it [the risk].

'This is why I have this sympathy for the people on board the sub, that they’re not panicking, that they knew what they were getting into.'

He said the 'They built this beautiful submarine which can go where no other vessel can go, so if in the worst case they are down at the bottom of the ocean I can't see how anyone will be able to get to them, much less rescue them. "

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12215697/Former-Titanic-sub-tourist-reveals-expedition-waiver-listed-three-ways-die-page-one.html

That “somehow” is doing a lot of work. The vision that they are calm down there is very romantic—but I think also delusional.

+1 yeah, what the heck - these people are not sitting here contemplating the tragic beauty of dying, tangled up in the shipwreck they alone could see. they're panicking and praying, and probably fighting a little bit, in their final hours trapped in this smelly, hot, literal pressure chamber. i hope they find peace at some point - but, no, they are not there to take comfort in a narratively satisfying ending.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they were killing one another down there right now. They’ve all probably become psychotic at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A vehicle the size of a mini-van with a bottle and Ziploc bags for a toilet. Viewing portal tested to 1400 meters’ depth and they were going down 14,000 feet. Controller made from a GameBoy.

The level of delusion involved in boarding this craft is shocking. It’s hard not to see it as a form of suicide.

Hadn’t it made successful trips before? I agree that it was obviously taking on huge risk, but they probably saw it had been done safely before.

Also, in general we trust that something like this won't be allowed to operate without some sufficient oversight. We trust this every time we get on an airplane or buy a new car, or get on a ride at an amusement park. We trust it when we participate in anything that, of course, has risks - but aren't there guardrails in place to prevent some yahoo from simply taking $250k from whoever wants to pay it and sending them 12,500 feet down without some sort of oversight and inspection?

Of course there can always be an accident, something can always go wrong - but is the system built to go wrong? I guess it turns out it is - but I don't think it's crazy for the people who bought their seats on this doomed ride to have believed that this insane company wouldn't have been allowed to do this unless someone without a financial stake in the company thought it was safe. I know this is an extreme case - but I just don't think you can blame the people who participated for not knowing how unregulated this turned out to be. Or accuse them of wanting to die.

This is just so horrific.

And the migrant boat sinking is also horrific. It's sort of the opposite end of the same spectrum. Though I don't know anyone thinks the migrant boats are safe - it's just the people willing to take them are that desperate.

I completely disagree with everything about assuming it’s safe. At some point an individual has to take responsibility for their own safety, assess the risks and determine whether to go or not. The waiver clearly states the sub wasn’t approved by any official for safety.

It’s tragic, but those passengers assumed 100% of the risk when they got on the sub.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A vehicle the size of a mini-van with a bottle and Ziploc bags for a toilet. Viewing portal tested to 1400 meters’ depth and they were going down 14,000 feet. Controller made from a GameBoy.

The level of delusion involved in boarding this craft is shocking. It’s hard not to see it as a form of suicide.

But one guy had gone down to the site 35 times, and lived to tell the story. So...no.

(I think it was reckless, but their intentions were not suicidal!)

I agree that these were likely not folks who would have died by some other means of suicide had they not gotten into this vehicle. But there are limits to human capabilities in nature, and the fact that one is paying $250k to test them doesn’t mean that the limits are nonexistent. That’s delusion.

I see it as being a lot like guided Everest climbs by inexperienced climbers. Very unfortunate.

The Simpsons writer who went on one of the successful dives has an interesting take on it. He basically said they're dead without saying they're dead, but also added:

The company has taken tourists to the site since 2021, and Mr Reiss was one of a number of groups who made the perilous journey last year.

'Somehow there's just the acceptance of it [the risk].

'This is why I have this sympathy for the people on board the sub, that they’re not panicking, that they knew what they were getting into.'

He said the 'They built this beautiful submarine which can go where no other vessel can go, so if in the worst case they are down at the bottom of the ocean I can't see how anyone will be able to get to them, much less rescue them. "

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12215697/Former-Titanic-sub-tourist-reveals-expedition-waiver-listed-three-ways-die-page-one.html

That “somehow” is doing a lot of work. The vision that they are calm down there is very romantic—but I think also delusional.

+1 yeah, what the heck - these people are not sitting here contemplating the tragic beauty of dying, tangled up in the shipwreck they alone could see. they're panicking and praying, and probably fighting a little bit, in their final hours trapped in this smelly, hot, literal pressure chamber. i hope they find peace at some point - but, no, they are not there to take comfort in a narratively satisfying ending.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they were killing one another down there right now. They’ve all probably become psychotic at this point.

I seriously hope they are already dead. and died instantly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can dolphins swim that deep?

No

What about an orca? I'm not saying this would work, but we won't know for sure unless we try.

Ha! They are two miles deep, and the submersible has 17 outer locks in place.

[Anonymous]

Did you all read how cavalier the founder/CEO was about safety?? The window was only certified for 1,300 meters, not the 4,000 meters where the Titanic is. They all likely died instantly from an implosion when they lost contact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Billionaires' descent
Titanic's watery grave calls
Lost souls, darkness claims

Don’t quit your day job.

Oh? Let's see your haiku.

NP but how about

Ocean floor is not
For people. It’s the Meg’s house.
Searches cost a lot.

Game controllers are
For video games. Use on
Your couch, not in subs.

Yes it’s ironic
To die in a sub while you
Gawk at Titanic.

Deep sea OceanGate
Titanic cruises suck. I
Want my money back.

Dollars spent in vain,
Moron billionaires' pursuit,
Titanic's cold grasp.

Carbon fiber hopes,
Experimental sub sinks,
Millions paid for naught.

Rescue mission fails,
Hubris claims moron billionaires,
Titanic's haunting cry.

Futile attempts made,
Government's costly rescue,
Billionaires meet fate.

Lost in icy depths,
Hubris drowns in sorrow's sea,
Titanic claims all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you all read how cavalier the founder/CEO was about safety?? The window was only certified for 1,300 meters, not the 4,000 meters where the Titanic is. They all likely died instantly from an implosion when they lost contact.

and if that's the case - we may never really know. because what are the odds of finding the imploded vessel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can dolphins swim that deep?

No

What about an orca? I'm not saying this would work, but we won't know for sure unless we try.

Ha! They are two miles deep, and the submersible has 17 outer locks in place.

Why 17 outside locks? 17 seems a bit arbitrary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can dolphins swim that deep?

No

What about an orca? I'm not saying this would work, but we won't know for sure unless we try.

Ha! They are two miles deep, and the submersible has 17 outer locks in place.

Then we rely on Aquaman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Billionaires' descent
Titanic's watery grave calls
Lost souls, darkness claims

Don’t quit your day job.

Oh? Let's see your haiku.

NP but how about

Ocean floor is not
For people. It’s the Meg’s house.
Searches cost a lot.

Game controllers are
For video games. Use on
Your couch, not in subs.

Yes it’s ironic
To die in a sub while you
Gawk at Titanic.

Deep sea OceanGate
Titanic cruises suck. I
Want my money back.

This is good, but more prosaic, less evocative, than the previous haiku.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can dolphins swim that deep?

No

What about an orca? I'm not saying this would work, but we won't know for sure unless we try.

Ha! They are two miles deep, and the submersible has 17 outer locks in place.

They don't need to open the sub. You just take two orcas and tie a fishing net between them (maybe 50-75 feet max). The orcas then dive down, locate the sub, and scoop the ocean explorers up in the net. Then they go back to the surface and the coast guard can figure out how to get through the 17 or whatever locks.

Again, I'm not saying this will work, but it's much more worthwhile than flying a bunch of airplanes around for days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can dolphins swim that deep?

No

What about an orca? I'm not saying this would work, but we won't know for sure unless we try.

Ha! They are two miles deep, and the submersible has 17 outer locks in place.

They don't need to open the sub. You just take two orcas and tie a fishing net between them (maybe 50-75 feet max). The orcas then dive down, locate the sub, and scoop the ocean explorers up in the net. Then they go back to the surface and the coast guard can figure out how to get through the 17 or whatever locks.

Again, I'm not saying this will work, but it's much more worthwhile than flying a bunch of airplanes around for days.

orcas don't dive down several miles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone thought about training a pod of dolphins to swim down and try to dislodge the tourist submarine. They are incredibly bright animals and should only take a couple of hours to train. Would be good to at least try while they wait for the ship with unmanned submersibles to arrive.

They could also consider some sort of pully with magnets, perhaps using a nearby fishing ship in the area.

It's 13000 ft into the darkest depths. No dolphin or fishing boat can navigate this. Even military submarines.

You're envisioning a fun little snorkling trip . This isn't it.

Yes, there's an excellent video circulating on Twitter that lists the depths that various marine animals and subs can swim at.

Here's a little graphic on marine animals:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can dolphins swim that deep?

No

What about an orca? I'm not saying this would work, but we won't know for sure unless we try.

Ha! They are two miles deep, and the submersible has 17 outer locks in place.

They don't need to open the sub. You just take two orcas and tie a fishing net between them (maybe 50-75 feet max). The orcas then dive down, locate the sub, and scoop the ocean explorers up in the net. Then they go back to the surface and the coast guard can figure out how to get through the 17 or whatever locks.

Again, I'm not saying this will work, but it's much more worthwhile than flying a bunch of airplanes around for days.

If your point is that an undertaking as delusional as this trip was can likely only be rescued via a completely deluded plan—point well taken.