British billionaire Hamish Harding, French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, and his son were on board the missing OceanGate Expeditions sub Titan. Reports suggest that the vessel has now run out of oxygen. Titan had submerged on June 18 on its way to the wreck of the Titanic. However, its mothership, the Canadian research icebreaker MV Polar Prince, lost contact with it after an hour and 45 minutes.
Interestingly, film director James Cameron has made several trips to the wreck of the Titanic. In 1995, Cameron made his first trip to capture footage for the 1997 film Titanic, which won 11 Oscars. In fact, Cameron has made 33 trips in total and knows how dangerous it can be. A particular voyage saw him trapped underwater for 16 hours due to the underwater currents.
Speaking about his experiences, Cameron mentioned how being an explorer has been a dream for him. He even wrote a book, Exploring The Deep, which includes photos and maps from his explorations of the wreck of the Titanic. In addition to the Titanic, Cameron has explored the bottom of the Marianas Trench, one of the deepest spots in the Earth’s oceans, about seven miles below the surface.
Cameron acknowledged the dangers of such dives, saying that you’re going into one of the most unforgiving places on earth, and that there’s no one to call to come to your rescue. However, he also considers his adventures a once-in-a-lifetime experience and describes them as ‘bearing witness to a miracle.’
The news of the missing OceanGate Expeditions sub Titan has revived interest in James Cameron’s dives to the Titanic wreck. The director’s words highlight the risks and adventures of underwater exploration, which requires courage, resources, and a passion for discovery and innovation.
