Larry Connor, a wealthy real estate magnate from Ohio, and Patrick Lahey, a deep-sea explorer, are gearing up for an expedition to explore the Titanic wreckage in the North Atlantic Ocean. They plan to descend to a depth of approximately 3,800 meters in a submersible called the Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer, designed to withstand such depths.

This initiative follows a tragic incident last year when a vessel built by OceanGate, known as the Titan submarine, collapsed en route to the Titanic, resulting in the loss of five lives, including OceanGate’s CEO Stockton Rush and other passengers. Investigations are ongoing into the cause of the disaster.

The Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer, which two explorers plan to take to the Titanic wreckage

In contrast to the Titan, which was certified to dive only to 1,300 meters, the Triton submersible being used by Connor and Lahey is built to handle much greater depths. Despite the setback to the private submersible industry caused by the Titan incident, Connor and Lahey aim to reignite interest in deep-sea exploration through their expedition.

Mr Connor also paid to fly to the International Space Station in 2022

Connor emphasized the transformative potential of ocean exploration, stating his desire to demonstrate its beauty and wonders to people worldwide. The proposed voyage will proceed only once the vessel is fully certified by a marine organization, ensuring the highest standards of safety.

This venture isn’t new to Connor and Lahey, as they previously explored the Challenger Deep and the Sirena Deep in the Mariana Trench, the deepest points on Earth’s seabed. Triton Submarines, co-founded by Lahey, stands at the forefront of submersible technology, with a track record of innovation and exploration.

The OceanGate-built Titan submersible imploded, killing five people