The Titanic Expedition is a series of five 8-day mission legs to explore the world’s most famous shipwreck and its debris field. Mission Specialists generally join us for one 8-day mission. All missions begin in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, transit to the site of the wreck, and return to St. John’s NL.
You will dive to the wreck site and explore the deep ocean in the world’s only human-occupied submersible capable of carrying five crew members to 4,000 meters.
When you are not diving, you can choose to help with dive planning, submersible servicing, scientific and historical research, or media review. Our crew includes scientists, Titanic experts, and explorers who are happy to discuss their work with you and give daily presentations. Learn how you can join here.
According to the dictionary, an expedition is “a journey or voyage undertaken by a group of people with a particular purpose, especially that of exploration or scientific research.”
When you join our Titanic Expedition as a Mission Specialist, you are signing up to join a team of adventurers with a passion for ocean exploration, and a plan to gather data for both scientific and historical research purposes. We’re passionate about changing how the world thinks about the deep ocean, and every Titanic dive is an opportunity to learn more.
OceanGate Foundation supports the work of the scientists and archaeologists who conduct research on our expeditions. Learn more about the research here.
We begin the Titanic Expedition in the spring and finish in early summer. Check the Titanic Expedition page for dates.
The Titanic wreck site is in the North Atlantic Ocean approximately 400 nautical miles off of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. The wreck lies at about 3,800m (12,800 feet) deep.
We charter ocean-going expedition vessels from Horizon Maritime and they are an excellent partner. It takes approximately 36 hours to reach the Titanic wreck site (depending on weather) after we leave our homeport of St. John’s, Newfoundland.
A Titanic dive takes approximately 10 hours from start to finish:
The mission support fee for the 2023 Titanic Expedition is $250,000 per diver. We do offer a companion fare for those who are joining a diving Mission Specialist but do not wish to dive themselves. Please inquire for more information.
No. Most recreational SCUBA divers can only go 130 feet deep. Technical and commercial dives can reach depths of 350-1,000 feet depending on skill level. The Titanic wreck is approximately 13,000 feet deep (3,800 meters).
We call our clients Mission Specialists. NASA used this term to describe personnel who help operate spacecraft in order to carry out the mission. Mission Specialists are important members of our expedition crew who assist with a variety of roles.
As a Mission Specialist, you will not just be “along for the ride.” You will be trained as a crew member in any role you feel comfortable doing or would like to learn. We enjoy sharing this unique and challenging expedition experience and will guide you through each step. All crew members participate in operations briefings each morning and evening.
Role availability may vary depending on the expedition you join and the specific mission goals. You may learn to:
You do not need any previous maritime experience or a specific skill set in order to join. It is helpful to have a sturdy pair of sea legs!
We will help you prepare for the expedition and answer any questions well before you leave home. During the weeks prior to departure, Mission Specialists have access to a web site we have built to share information about our systems and operations. You are also invited to several webinars with expedition leadership and subject matter experts. Once you board the expedition vessel, we will show you everything you need to know about life on board a working vessel and to prepare for your dive.
Our Expedition Manager or a member of our medical team would be happy to talk to you if you have any concerns.
That’s great! There is so much to learn about the technology and systems we employ, the marine biology of the wreck site, as well as Titanic herself. We invite experts, veteran divers, and historians on our missions to enhance your experience and engage with Mission Specialists on a wide variety of topics.
We have a list of resources we’d be happy to share with you to learn more about Titanic whether you’re new to the story or have been a fan for decades. Follow us on social media and check out our YouTube channel @oceangateexped to get started, or reach out to our Expedition Manager for more information.
Yes. We consult with our Expedition Medical Team on current best practices to ensure we’re doing everything we can to protect our crew. We will brief you as you prepare for your mission and again when you arrive on the expedition vessel.
Living on the expedition vessel is very different from going on a vacation cruise, but some things are similar. All your meals will be provided by the ship’s galley. You will have a stateroom and access to a bathroom with a shower. You will see amazing views of the open ocean, sunrise and sunsets, and possibly large pods of whales and dolphin. Our crew includes you in our daily activities so you’re never bored, but there is time to relax – diving to the Titanic is hard work and days start early.
Everyone – even the most experienced seafarer – can become seasick. We encourage Mission Specialists to talk with their doctors before leaving home to see what options may be available to ward off seasickness or alleviate symptoms. Our expedition physician will also be available to help you with medication and other advice while you are on board.
We would be happy to answer any questions that you may have – we also have a few tricks that we’ve learned over the years.
A submersible is a small watercraft designed to operate underwater. We use OceanGate Inc.’s submersible named Titan for our Titanic dives.
It can seat up to five people, including the pilot, and dive to 4,000 meters deep. The ambient pressure inside the submersible is the same as your living room and never changes so there is no need for decompression stops.
Titan is one-of-a-kind. It is the only human-occupied pressure hull made of carbon fiber and was designed under a Space Act agreement with NASA to withstand the immense pressure in the deep ocean. The aerospace grade carbon fiber was wound in a very specific pattern by a high-tech robot and cured after every inch of layup. It has the largest acrylic viewport of any deep-diving submersible. We would be happy to answer any questions you have about Titan, and you can learn more about it on OceanGate’s website.
The biggest difference between a submersible and a submarine is that a submarine can stay underwater much longer. A submarine has enough power to travel long distances under its own power – military submarines can stay underwater for months at a time – while a submersible has fewer power reserves and needs a support vessel or “mother ship” to support its operation.
Titan has 96 hours of life support. This is consistent with DNV/GL classing requirements and appropriate for Titanic dives which typically last approximately 10-11 hours from dome closing to dome opening.
Yes. Titan is the only deep diving sub with a toilet. It is a custom-built unit similar to a camping toilet that is mounted in the forward dome and offers the best seat in the house. When we need to use the “potty” we hang a privacy curtain and turn up the music. It’s a great system but we do recommend a low residue diet the day before going on a dive.
Yes, and it is tradition to bring a sandwich for lunch (ask us why). You’ll be given a dry bag about the size of a small backpack to carry your food, water, and extra warm layers of clothing.
We charter submersibles that can seat up to five people including the pilot.
Yes. Titan communicates with the topside comms and tracking team via text messages which are exchanged via a USBL (ultra-short baseline) acoustic system. The sub is required to communicate with topside every fifteen minutes or more frequently if needed. Tracking of the sub’s position (lat/long and depth) is achieved through the same system but is controlled by the computer and updates the sub’s position every few seconds.
There is a wifi network within the submersible but it only connects components within the sub itself. The only communications link between the sub and the surface is via the USBL system described above.
The sub is equipped with some basic emergency medical supplies and 96 hours of life support. Our sub pilots have basic first aid training and provide a safety brief to all crew members at the start of every dive. Mission Specialists are required to report any concerns or changes to the Expedition Medical Team before beginning a dive. In the event of a medical emergency the sub would immediately begin its ascent. Ascent time from 4,000 meters to the surface is approximately 2.5 hours. Once on the surface, the time required to recover the submersible and return crew to the support ship varies depending on sea state.
We mount SubC Imaging 4K cameras on the sub’s external framework. We’re evolving every year to keep up with the best subsea imaging equipment available. We also have several cameras inside the sub that take pictures through the viewport.