The tragic implosion of the OceanGate submersible, which was on a mission to explore the Titanic wreck, remains shrouded in mystery. Although the full details of the sub’s final moments may never be known, a new revelation offers insight into one of the crew’s last communications: “All good here.”
The U.S. Coast Guard began a two-week hearing to investigate the disaster that claimed the lives of all five people aboard the Titan submersible. Among the evidence presented was a message sent by the crew, stating “all good here,” as the vessel descended to 2,274 meters (7,460 feet) below sea level. This communication indicates that those on board were unaware of the impending danger. The Titanic wreck, the intended destination of the mission, lies at a depth of 3,800 meters (over 12,400 feet).
As the Titan neared 1,500 feet from the Titanic wreck, it sent its final message: “Dropped two wts,” which, according to the Coast Guard, indicated the submersible had released some of its weight. Shortly after, the sub lost communication with the OceanGate surface crew.
In the hearing, further revelations came to light, including new photos showing the Titan’s tail cone and other debris discovered four days after the sub went missing. These images were captured from the bottom of the sea, adding another layer of evidence to the ongoing investigation.
Concerns about the Titan’s integrity had been raised long before the ill-fated voyage. OceanGate’s former engineering director, Tony Nissen, testified that he was so skeptical of the submersible’s design and safety that he declined Rush’s offer to pilot the vessel on a dive to the Titanic. “I didn’t trust Stockton either,” Nissen stated during the hearing.
Additional warnings about the sub’s safety had emerged in the months before the disaster. The Titan had partially sunk during a mission just a month before the fatal dive, and on another occasion, five passengers were injured when they were slammed against the sub’s walls while resurfacing. Despite these alarming incidents, the Titan continued to operate, raising questions about why it wasn’t grounded for further inspection.
The hearing also revisited the fact that OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush had openly boasted about using expired carbon fiber in the sub’s hull—a revelation that further fueled doubts about the submersible’s structural integrity.
Even before the latest details surfaced during the hearing, numerous red flags had already signaled the Titan’s doomed fate. Former employees had raised concerns, and a public letter from other submersible operators warned of the vessel’s potential risks. The true mystery, however, remains why these warnings were ignored and why no action was taken to prevent the Titan from embarking on its final, tragic voyage.
