OceanGate Co-Founder Organizes Deep-Sea Expedition To Bahamas 'Blue Hole' After Titan Tragedy Last Year
Exactly a year after the Titan submersible disaster, OceanGate's co-founder is planning an expedition to one of the world's deepest underwater sinkholes. Guillermo Söhnlein, 58, co-founded OceanGate in 2009 with Stockton Rush, who perished in last year's submersible implosion at age 61.
According to The Independent reports, after departing OceanGate in 2013, Söhnlein co-founded Blue Marble Exploration. This new venture aims to explore a 663-feet deep, previously uncharted sinkhole. Dean's Blue Hole, located in the Bahamas, is described by the company as "virtually unexplored," and participants in the first manned submersible dive are advised to "expect the unexpected".
Blue Marble Exploration's website notes that locals believe Dean's Blue Hole is a portal to hell, with the Devil lurking in its depths. The site also mentions that several people drown there each year due to various misfortunes. The company expects to find human remains and plans to handle such discoveries with respect for the families involved.
The expedition faces numerous challenges, including uncharted waters, unforeseen currents, extreme pressure, near-complete darkness, and a remote location. While the website invites people to "join our expedition," it is unclear if there will be a cost similar to the $250,000 OceanGate charged for Titanic wreckage dives.
An advertisement for the mission states: "The next frontier for our team is in the underwater depths of Dean's Blue Hole". The first descent will involve crewed submersibles equipped with LED lights and underwater drone technology. Scientists aim to explore some of Earth's least hospitable conditions in search of unprecedented findings.
It remains unknown what type of submersibles will be used for this mission. OceanGate's Titan used a controversial carbon fibre hull, which is believed to have weakened over time, leading to last June's catastrophic implosion. Five people died when the sub imploded approximately an hour and 45 minutes into its dive to the Titanic wreck, located around 12,500 feet below the North Atlantic Ocean.
Söhnlein has expressed confidence in safely sending humans to Venus and has given several interviews following last June's disaster. He told Reuters: "Let's figure out what went wrong, let's learn lessons and let's get down there again."
He added that there is an even stronger imperative to continue this kind of exploration work. He believes it is important for humanity and sees it as a way to honour the five crew members who lost their lives doing something they loved.
The upcoming expedition aims to push the boundaries of underwater exploration while addressing past challenges and ensuring safety measures are in place. The mission promises new discoveries and insights into one of Earth's least explored environments.
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