Never-Before-Seen Footage of Titanic Wreckage Released After Over a Century
Over a century after the Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution released never-before-seen footage on Wednesday of what was at one point the largest ship in the world.
The haunting video was captured in 1986, when the WHOI made 11 dives nearly 12,500 feet below the ocean’s surface to explore the wreckage.
“Like many, I was transfixed when Alvin and Jason Jr. ventured down to and inside the wreck,” James Cameron, who directed the blockbuster film, Titanic, and has explored oceans himself, said in a statement on Wednesday.
“By releasing this footage, WHOI is helping tell an important part of a story that spans generations and circles the globe.”
The Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, after hitting an iceberg on its maiden voyage from England to New York City.
26-YEAR-OLD TITANIC MYSTERY FINALLY SOLVED BY DIVERS
Recovery efforts immediately began, but it wasn’t until September 1985 that WHOI finally located the wreckage in partnership with the Institut français de recherche pour l’exploitation de la mer.
“The water is near freezing temperatures and probably the biggest challenge is the remoteness of the location, and in particular the harsh environment with regard to the pressure our equipment is exposed to,” Robert Ballard, who led the 1985 discovery and captured footage of the Titanic in 1986, told the Associated Press on Wednesday.
The 80-minute uncut, unnarated footage was released on Wednesday evening.
A Video and Images to Remember the Titanic
The video and images of the Titanic wreckage released by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution are a powerful reminder of the tragedy that befell the great ship and its passengers over a century ago. The footage and images show the eerie remains of the ship, which is now covered in rust and encrusted with sea life. The images and video also show the remarkable technology that was used to explore the wreck and bring the story of the Titanic back to the surface.
It is a testament to the bravery of the divers who explored the wreck and the resilience of the human spirit that we are still able to explore the Titanic and remember its legacy. As we reflect on the tragedy that took place over a century ago, it is important to remember the lives that were lost and the lessons that were learned.
Paul Best is a breaking News reporter for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to Paul.Best@fox.com and on Twitter: @KincaidBest.
