Long before the tragic disappearance of the Titan submersible, Josh Gates, the veteran explorer and host of Discovery Channel’s Expedition Unknown, stood inside the carbon-fiber hull of the vessel and made a choice that likely saved his life: he walked away.Travel Shows & Entertainment
In a newly surfaced account of a 2021 “shakedown dive” in Puget Sound, Gates revealed that while he had intended to film a special on the Titanic wreck, his firsthand experience with Ocean Gate’s “novel” engineering left him profoundly uneasy.
“Innovative” or “Experimental”?
The Titan was marketed by Ocean Gate CEO Stockton Rush as a breakthrough in maritime innovation. Unlike the heavy titanium spheres traditionally used for deep-sea exploration, Titan utilized a carbon-fiber hull. This allowed for a much larger internal space—holding up to five passengers—but introduced a terrifying set of unknowns regarding material fatigue at extreme depths.
“There is almost nothing to Benchmark it against,” Gates explained. “It is a one-off. We know carbon fiber is extremely strong, but there are real questions about its performance after multiple cycles in freezing temperatures and immense pressure.”Movies
During the 2021 test dive, Gates noted that the “miracle product” didn’t always translate to a seamless operation. The vessel suffered from thruster failures and computer control issues—glitches Gates initially dismissed as typical of a “test pilot” environment, but which eventually contributed to his decision to back out of the project.
A Vault with No Exit
One of the most striking design choices Gates highlighted was the lack of a top-side hatch. Because of the unique carbon-fiber construction, the Titan was bolted shut from the outside. Passengers were effectively sealed in a “vault” that could not be opened from the within, regardless of whether the sub reached the surface.
To mitigate this, the vessel was designed with four separate “redundant” weight-drop systems:Computer-Controlled Ballast: An automated system to vent water.
Manual Air Valves: Manual bladders to provide buoyancy.
Hydraulic Weights: A lever to drop bottom-mounted weights.
Skid Release: The ability to drop the entire bottom assembly of the sub.
“In theory, these systems should have brought Titan back to the surface even if it lost power,” Gates said. “The fact that it lost communication on the way down and has not been seen since opens up a whole other category of possibilities, including a catastrophic hull failure.”
The Allure of the Abyss
Despite his concerns, Gates expressed deep admiration for the passion of the five individuals currently missing in the North Atlantic. He challenged “callous” social media comments questioning why anyone would take such a risk.
“Titanic has fascinated the world since the night she sank,” Gates said. “These shipwrecks are time capsules. They hold a real fascination for historians and scientists. It takes a lot of courage to go to these depths. Like those who climb Everest or parachute, it speaks to them on a personal level.”
As search and rescue teams from across the globe rush to the North Atlantic, the window of hope is closing. For Gates, the Titan remains a “real mystery”—an experimental craft that pushed the boundaries of innovation until it may have finally pushed too far.
