faq
What are the eligibility requirements to join the expedition?
- Be at least 18 years of age when the mission begins
- Have a valid passport, be able to live aboard a Dive Support Ship at sea for up to one week
- Be able to board small boats (Zodiacs) in rough seas
- Are comfortable in dynamic environments where plans and timetables may change
- Be able to demonstrate basic balance and flexibility (i.e. climb a 6-foot ladder, carry 20 lbs., etc.)
How much does it cost to join the expedition?
The mission support fee for the 2021 expedition is $125,000 per person.
What is the cancellation policy?
Expedition fees will be refunded or credited to future OceanGate missions as follows:
- 100% credit for cancellation of a Mission Specialist dive due to any equipment failure.
- 100% refund for cancellation by Mission Specialist for any reason more than 180 days prior to departure.
- 0% refund or credit for cancellation by Mission Specialists within 180 days of departure.
- 50% credit for cancellation of a Mission Specialist dive due to weather related issues during the mission (severe storms, sustained sea conditions, etc.) deemed unsafe to conduct dive operations. If the Expedition Leader deems it safe to dive during turbulent weather, and the Mission Specialist opts not to participate, no refund will be given, although every effort will be made to accommodate the Mission Specialist on another dive during the same mission.
What is included?
- One submersible dive to the wreck of the RMS Titanic
- An opportunity to perform a rare feat that only a few hundred people have ever accomplished
- Accommodations and meals aboard the dive support ship
- Shoreside accommodations, meals and ground transportation in St. John’s as shown in the itinerary
- Mission Specialist training and coaching before and during the mission
- Opportunities to actively support the expedition and dive operations team, content experts aboard the submersible and surface support vessels
- Opportunities to attend private pre-expedition planning and information events with the expedition crew and content experts
- Presentations by content experts and scientists before and during the mission
- Expedition gear
- Expedition report detailing the discoveries made by the mission teams
What is NOT included:
Travel costs to and from St. John's, Newfoundland.
How long is each mission?
The mission is 10 days in duration.
What will I need to bring with me?
You will need to bring any required medications. A recommended packing list will be provided to all Mission Specialists at least 60 days prior to the expedition.
What equipment or gear will be provided for me?
In addition to your personal expedition gear, all personal protective equipment (i.e. hard hat, rubber boots, PFD, etc.) a VHF radio and foul weather gear will be provided for use while on board the ship.
What will the accommodations be like?
Mission Specialists will enjoy private living quarters and share the ship’s common areas with the entire expedition crew. These common areas can include lounges, ready room for crew briefings, dining area, a small media room for viewing recorded programs and expedition media, a small workout room and a sauna. It should be noted that Dive Support Ships are comfortable and clean, but are not considered luxurious.
What kind of training will I receive?
When you arrive aboard the ship you will receive a vessel orientation and safety briefing. This will include vessel safety drills and learning to don a survival suit. Throughout the mission, you can take part in Mission Specialist training which will qualify you to assist the crew and content experts on board the submersible or the ship. See Crew Roles page for examples.
How many people will be in the submersible?
Each dive roster will typically consist of a Pilot, three Mission Specialists and one Content Expert.
Will we have to decompress when we surface?
The air pressure in the submersible will remain at a constant one atmosphere – the same pressure we experience at sea level – regardless of depth. Therefore, no decompression is necessary.
How long will my dive last?
Average dive time will be 6-8 hours. Dive time may vary depending on specific mission objectives, environmental, logistical or personnel considerations.
How long does it take to descend to the wreck?
Descending to the wreck and ascending at the end of the dive will take approximately 90 minutes each way, providing approximately 3 hours to explore the wreck during a 6-hour dive.
How long can the submersible stay down?
For a crew of 5, the sub has 96 hours of life support.
How do I join the expedition?
To join the expedition, you must first request a crew application to provide information that the Expedition Leader will use to assess your ability to participate in the expedition. Please see the Join Us page for additional information.
Can I Bring a Companion?
Yes, as a Mission Specialist you are welcome to bring a companion for an additional fee of 50% of Mission Specialist fee. Companions may participate in all the expeditions activities except for a submersible dive. All companions must apply to join and be vetted by the expedition team. Companions share a ship stateroom and hotel room with the mission specialist they are joining. There is a limit of 3 companions per mission so please contact the expedition team for the current availability.
Is there a doctor onboard?
Yes. Additionally, some full-time crew members have emergency medical training and all full-time crew members have a current first aid training certificate for assistance with minor injuries. In extreme cases, medical evacuation may be possible, although factors such as weather conditions, sea state and distance from shore may restrict or eliminate these options.
How large is the viewport on the sub?
The viewport has a maximum diameter of 53.34 cm (21 inches) – making it the largest viewport of any submersible capable of diving to these depths. For additional viewing, external cameras provide a near 180-degree view from the bow of the sub.
Is it safe?
Manned submersibles are one of the safest vehicles in the world. In the last 35 years, over 11 million people have dived in certified, non-military manned submersibles – all without a serious injury.
How deep is the dive?
Titanic rests on the seabed at a depth of 3800 meters (12,800 feet) or about 3.8 km (2.4 miles).
Is there a bathroom on the sub?
Yes, a small portable toilet and privacy screen is available for use inside of Titan. However, it is recommended that you reduce consumption prior to, and during the dive to reduce the need to use the facilities as much as possible.
How many people have been to the Titanic?
Although a specific number is difficult to know, it is believed that fewer than 200 people have seen the wreck in person – far less than have flown in space or climbed Mt. Everest.
How many people are in the expedition crew and who are they?
The crew consists of 9 mission specialists, 8 to 10 OceanGate pilots and support crew, 4 to 6 content experts, 20 vessel crew, plus technical experts, film crew, doctor and companions for a total of 50 to 60 people aboard the vessel during your mission.
Who are the content experts?
Content experts join the expedition to expand the team’s ability to explore and gather data or images of the wreck. These experts include Titanic historians, deep sea marine biologists, marine archaeologists, microbiologists, film makers and technical specialists. A preliminary list of specific experts will be provided when available.
Is alcohol provided or allowed?
Yes, a selection of alcohol will be provided and may be consumed aboard the ship in locations or at times designated by the Expedition Leader. Alcohol is not allowed in the submersible at any time, and alcohol may not be consumed the day prior to your submersible dive. Non-prescription substances are strictly prohibited throughout the expedition.
Is there food onboard the sub?
Yes. The sub has emergency food and water to safely sustain five people for 96 hours. For crew comfort, a limited amount of food and beverage will be on board for consumption during the dive – although we recommend limiting your intake during the dive due to the limited bathroom facilities.
What is the temperature inside the sub during a dive?
During any dive, the internal temperature inside the carbon fiber hull is typically a few degrees warmer than the outside water temperature. For dives to Titanic, we expect the internal temperature to be approximately 40-50 degrees F (4-10 degrees C).
Is claustrophobia a problem
Claustrophobia has not been a problem. After over 300 dives in three subs, we have not had anyone feel claustrophobic. For this expedition, we will provide opportunities for all mission specialists to climb aboard one of our submersibles to experience what it is like inside the sub prior to joining the expedition.
How do you know where you are during a dive?
At the start of each dive, precise GPS coordinates are fed into the Inertial Navigation System aboard the submersible. This INS system, Phins 6000 from iXblue, uses an optical gyroscope to track changes in position both vertically and horizontally from the original GPS coordinates. The pilot uses this real-time navigational data to steer the sub to the wreck during the descent.
The PHINS system works in tandem with an acoustic positioning system, called the Posidonia II, also from iXblue. Throughout every dive, acoustic positioning data is transmitted from the top-side support ship to the submersible and vice versa, making it possible for both the pilot and support crew to triangulate the exact position of the sub. The position is fed to a display screen onboard the submersible that illustrates its exact position overlaid on a top-down view of the wreck site and debris field. In addition to acoustic positioning, the submersible crew monitors a real-time 2D sonar making it possible to recognize obstacles up to 300 meters away
Experience the mystery and participate in the knowledge
