James Cameron, ‘Titanic’ director and diving expert, reveals reasons for Titan Sub’s underwater implosion.

James Cameron: Expert Director and Submersible Designer

James Cameron, the Oscar-winning director of “Titanic,” shared his insights on the recent implosion of the OceanGates’ Titan submersible. In interviews with ABC News and The New York Times, Cameron explained that the submersible’s failure was due to improper construction materials.

Cameron, known for his expertise in diving and submersibles, expressed his familiarity with the Titanic wreck site, having made 33 dives and spending more time on the ship than the captain did. Drawing from his experience as a submersible designer, Cameron emphasized the engineering challenges and safety protocols involved in constructing such vehicles.

According to Cameron, the Titan submersible imploded because it was made of carbon fiber, which lacks strength in compression. He described the implosion as an extremely violent event, comparable to the force of 10 cases of dynamite exploding.

Cameron highlighted that deep submergence is a “mature art,” with established certification protocols to ensure passenger safety. He noted that the Titan submersible, unlike other vessels in the field, did not undergo proper certification despite concerns raised by experts in the deep submergence engineering community.

Cameron drew a parallel between the Titan disaster and the Titanic’s sinking, where the captain ignored warnings about ice ahead. He remarked, “I’m struck by the similarity of the Titanic disaster itself, where the captain was repeatedly warned about ice ahead of his ship, and yet he steamed at full speed into an ice field on a moonless night and many people died as a result.”

Watch the interview below:

‘Titanic’ director James Cameron on the ‘catastrophic implosion’ of Titan submersible: “I’m struck by the similarity of the Titanic disaster itself, where the captain was repeatedly warned about ice ahead of his ship and yet he steamed at full speed into an ice field.” pic.twitter.com/vO8JkCXS5f

— ABC News (@ABC) June 22, 2023