Never-Seen Footage Of Titanic Wreckage Reveals The Ship When It Was First Found

The RMS Titanic remains one of the most iconic ships that ever set sail. Its fame, unfortunately, did not come from its immense size but from its demise in 1912. As most probably are aware, the liner hit an iceberg while sailing on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City.
 
The search for the ship commenced almost immediately after it sunk. Still, technological limitations had kept its location hidden from the public until Robert Ballard, an oceanographer, discovered the wreckage in 1985.
 
The following year, Ballard led an expedition to film the vessel using a deep-ocean submersible named ‘Alvin’ and a remote camera called ‘Jason Jr’.
 
An 80-minute long video featuring footage from back then has been kept in the archives of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), until now, that is. Part of the reason for releasing the footage now is that it coincides with the 25th anniversary and re-release of the James Cameron movie. Another is so explorers can carry on the legacy of one of maritime’s greatest disasters and the 1,500 innocent lives lost during the event.
 
A teaser video gives a sneak peek into what audiences are in for, including images from the bow and inside the wreckage. The haunting stillness of a ship filled with excited passengers ready to cross the North Atlantic sends chills down the spine.
 
Aside from this, Ballard also hopes to convey some of the remarkable achievements accomplished during the dive.

Watch the video below to dive back into the depths of the Titanic’s history.

 
 
[via Associated Press News and The Guardian, cover image via Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution]