YouTube sensation Jake Koehler, known for his treasure-hunting adventures under the sea, was part of a prelude to a tragedy that shook the world. Koehler, with over 13 million subscribers on his channel DALLMYD, released a riveting 30-minute video showcasing his nine-day trip in the Atlantic Ocean. A journey that was thrilling until it gave way to a heartbreaking catastrophe.
Koehler joined the Titan submersible for its third mission, embarking from St. John’s in Newfoundland, Canada. The vessel vanished during its fifth venture on June 18, later revealed by the US Navy to have tragically imploded shortly after beginning its descent.
On board were British businessmen Hamish Harding and Shahzada Dawood, Dawood’s son Suleman, Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush. All tragically lost their lives in the implosion.
As a tribute, Koehler shared footage of Nargeolet and Rush, though he carefully removed certain clips regarding their tragic end.
Koehler’s video depicts the Titan’s crew taking the submersible to a nearby cove for repairs before heading out to sea. “The first two missions couldn’t dive down to the Titanic due to weather conditions. Plus, something happened when they were towing the Titan back. A ghost net got entangled, damaging a lot,” Koehler explains, emphasizing the importance of ensuring safety before each dive.
Before their expedition, OceanGate intended to conduct an “engineering dive.” However, due to the sub’s functional issues and unfavorable weather, the dive was canceled, as noted by an OceanGate official in the video.
Rush, detailing the reasons behind his decision, pointed out something amiss with the submersible’s control system, the “brains” of the sub, as he called it. According to him, the problem lay in the two “control pods” on top of the sub, which were not “consistently communicating.”
While Koehler was unsure if the control pods issue was the one that led to the Titan’s catastrophic implosion, he acknowledged the reality that minor issues were part of their daily routine. “Every day, they did have some problems, and we tried to fix everything to ensure everything was perfect for our opportunity to dive into the Titanic.”
Although he didn’t make it to the Titanic, resting over 12,000 feet below the ocean’s surface, he did take a test dive to a depth of about 3,000 feet. The reality of what could have been was not lost on him, “I would have been in that submarine, and my fate could have been just like the five who lost their lives just recently on mission five,” Koehler reflected.
While the tragic events unfolded, they served as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of the vast ocean and the challenges and risks inherent in pushing the boundaries of human exploration. As we continue to plunge into the depths, entrepreneurs and investors alike must remember the importance of safety in innovation.