Ex-BBC journalist Mike McKimm recalls losing power on a submersible while visiting Titanic wreck 13 years ago.
"It was my first dive so I was very, very nervous. I can only begin to imagine what these people are going through."
His mission involved two submarines diving as a pair, meaning there was a chance of assistance if either vessel found itself in difficulty.'The risks are very high'"In those 20 minutes you've a lot to think about and you realise just how dangerous it all is, diving at that depth is a very dangerous past time, the risks are very, very high," he said,
Prior to his dive, Mr McKimm had to sign a document by the Russian company, accepting responsibility and confirming that he understood the risks involved. "These people who have dived in the last week down to Titanic will have signed exactly the same kind of document saying they accept all the risks," he said.The former journalist, who was documenting the wreckage during his descent, described the darkness of the Atlantic ocean as "blacker than you could ever imagine" with temperatures dropping to 2C.
"It is very claustrophobic," he added. "For people just sitting as tourists, looking around, there's a lot that can go through your mind."Related Topics
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Titanic wreck dives 'frightening at the best of times'Former BBC correspondent Mike McKimm was on a submersible which lost power for 20 minutes during an ocean dive in 2005.
Read more »
Titanic sub search - live: US Coast Guard giving update; another vessel at Titanic shipwreck site overnight'If your submersibles can find this sub is there any way to retrieve it and save the people onboard?' Captain Jamie Frederick says a group of the nation's 'best experts' would be looking at what the next course of action is if they get to that point
Read more »
Titanic sub had three previous dives called off over structural concerns🔴 The tourist submersible that went missing during an Atlantic dive to the Titanic wreckage had previously shown signs of “cyclic fatigue” to its hull that caused three previous voyages to be scrapped
Read more »
Titanic sub taking tourists to view sunken wreck goes MISSING in AtlanticA SUBMARINE used to take tourists to see the wreckage of the Titanic has vanished. Rescue crews are frantically searching the Atlantic Ocean after the vessel disappeared. It is unclear how many peo…
Read more »
Sub that takes tourists to view wreck of Titanic goes missing in Atlantic OceanA submersible vehicle that takes tourists to view the wreckage of the Titanic has gone missing, sparking a major search and rescue operation
Read more »
Mystery as Titanic submarine that takes tourists to wreck vanishes in AtlanticBREAKING: A search and rescue mission has been launched after a submarine used to take tourists to view the wreck of the Titanic has gone missing in the Atlantic Ocean.
Read more »