Rare footage of the 1986 dive that explored the wreckage of the Titanic will be released by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The more than 80-minute-long video will be available on the WHOI’s YouTube channel, with the aim of showcasing the team’s achievements in exploring the ocean liner. Led by Robert Ballard, this dive marked the first time that the Titanic had been seen by human eyes since it sank in 1912. About 1,500 passengers and crew died when the ship sank during its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City. The footage release coincides with the 25th anniversary of the remastered version of the academy award-winning movie, ”Titanic.”
In partnership with Institut français de recherche pour l’exploitation de la mer, the WHOI located the final position of the ship 12,400 feet below sea level using a towed underwater camera in September 1985. The team then returned nine months later carrying advanced equipment, including the famous three-person research submersible Alvin and the remotely-operated underwater exploration vehicle Jason Jr. As a result, stunning images of the Titanic’s interior were captured.
Ocean explorer and filmmaker James Cameron said in a statement that the release of this footage will allow people to connect with the ship in a more personal way and help showcase the historical significance of the liner. Since the shipwreck, several exploration expeditions have been carried out; each one has provided new insights into the events of that fateful night. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is proud to make the never-before-seen footage available to the public.
