It has been 14 years since divers have gone to the RMS Titanic, and those who explored the wreckage of the doomed ship saw firsthand the condition the 107-year-old wreckage is in.
Five dives were done earlier this month by teams from Triton Submarines. The teams were made up of experts, scientists and a representative from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, CNN reported.
They recorded new video of the ship's condition that will be used in a documentary by Atlantic Productions, and it shows how the ship is being reclaimed by salt corrosion and metal-eating bacteria.
"The most fascinating aspect was seeing how the Titanic is being consumed by the ocean and returning to its elemental form while providing refuge for a remarkably diverse number of animals," Patrick Lahey told CNN. Lahey is the president and co-founder of Triton Submarines.
The team also continued the tradition of laying a wreath to honor the 1,517 people who died when the ship sank in 1912.
The Titanic was discovered 34 years ago, in 1985, by Robert Ballard, National Geographic reported. It was a surprise for Ballard and his team, who were tasked by the U.S. Navy to help find the wreckage of the USS Thresher and the USS Scorpion. Navy officials said if he had time after his main mission was completed, he could look for the unsinkable ship. But Ballard said those officials never expected to actually find the famous ship, according to an interview with National Geographic.
Cox Media Group
