If you’re tired of the same old vacation itineraries of relaxing on the beach, then you might be interested in this scientific expedition. OceanGate Expeditions is offering up six opportunities for planned dives that will explore the Titanic, and visitors will be considered “mission specialists.”
Each dive will have a crew consisting of scientists, filmmakers, and explorers that will be expected to take photos, videos, sonar data, and laser scans of the ship’s wreckage. This will be done so the site can eventually preserved.
Mission specialists will be give hands-on training and will travel to the ocean floor in a submersible watercraft. The watercraft will scan the ocean and the shipwreck in order to look for any data that can be used. The team will also need to help with cataloguing, maintenance, and navigation. Each dive will last between eight to 10 hours total.
Although you might think that this type of expedition would mean the mission specialists will be paid, that’s far from the case. In fact, in order to join in, every member of the team will be expected to pay a $125,000 base fee, along with an additional $50,000 for other components of the journey. This will get each traveler a private cabin.
Four of the expeditions will depart from Newfoundland, and the first and last will depart from the Eastern coast of the United States. The very first expedition is set to go out in May 2021.
Of course, the preferred candidates for the team are “citizen scientists” who will be able to handle boarding small boats in potentially rough waters. Every candidate must be at least 18 years old, as well as be able to be flexible with a changing plan and calendar.
In order to become eligible, potential candidates must apply for a position on the expeditions online. Once accepted, candidates will then sign a training agreement and submit their payment.
So, will you go near or far?