Larry Connor is preparing to take a deep-sea submersible to the Titanic site to prove that underwater explorations are safe despite the tragic end to the OceanGate exploration last year.
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The real estate investor and Triton Submarines co-founder Patrick Lahey plans to dive more than 12,400 feet to the wreck in a two-person submersible. While speaking with the Wall Street Journal, Connor said he wants to prove that it is possible to explore the ocean safely: “I want to show people worldwide that while the ocean is extremely powerful, it can be wonderful and enjoyable and really kind of life-changing if you go about it the right way.”
In response to last year’s OceanGate tragedy, in which the submersible Titan imploded and killed all five people aboard, Connor and Lahey are determined to prove that deep-sea exploration can be conducted safely. Lahey reportedly designed a $20 million vessel named the Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer, which Connor believes can successfully and repeatedly endure the trip to the Titanic.
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Their mission is to prove that the voyage can be accomplished without disaster. Following the tragedy, Connor urged Lahey to build a stronger submersible that could be used repeatedly and safely for future exploration. Although he didn’t disclose the exact date of their voyage, their goal was to change attitudes towards deep-sea exploration.
Lahey previously questioned the ethics of OceanGate due to safety concerns because the submersible was not certified through established safety organizations such as the American Bureau of Shipping and Det Norske Veritas in Europe.
