Diving Tours of the Titanic Coming to Newfoundland in 2018

Titanic lovers rejoice: one British company is going to start offering personalized diving tours to the Titanic wreckage site starting in 2018.

Based in London, the travel company Blue Marble Private is keeping the allure of this ill-fated ocean liner alive. Back in 1912, traveling on the Titanic’s maiden voyage — and only voyage– was considered the ultimate extravagance, and more than 100 years later, the boat is still attracting wealthy travelers worldwide.

Considered to be the most famous shipwreck of the 20th century, interest in the ship piqued back in 1985 when U.S. Navy officer Robert Ballard and his team discovered its remains more than two miles underneath the surface of the Atlantic. The catastrophic story of its final night is what drew people in; due to a lack of lifeboats and an ill-prepared ship crew, 1,503 out of 2,208 voyagers perished with the “unsinkable” Titanic when it ran full speed against an iceberg, causing a massive gash in its side.

While the Titanic was only 883 feet long, for the turn of the century, it was considered a massive ship. However, it doesn’t come close to the ships of today. By modern standards, boats are around 15-30 feet in length, yachts range from 35-160 feet, and anything larger is considered a “Superyacht.” Then there are the massive cruise ships of the modern age, which dwarf the one mighty Titanic.

But don’t worry history buffs — travelers with Blue Marble Private won’t ever have to touch the same icy waters as the Titanic’s original passengers. Although one hour of vigorous swimming will burn up to 650 calories, Titanic-seekers won’t have to worry about getting out of breath, as they’ll be brought down to the iconic ship via a titanium-and-carbon-fiber submersible vessel.

So what’s the price tag? $105,129 per person. According to Blue Marble Private, this is the same cost when adjusted for inflation as a $4,350 first class travel ticket on the Titanic back in 1912.

The eight-day trip will set off from Newfoundland, Canada, includes three potential days of diving and up to three hours a day in the submarine, which gives each passenger the ability to conduct 2D and 3D sonar scans to search for the ship’s boilers or propellers.

Each passenger will be given the title of “Mission Specialist” and will help the expedition crew both onboard the submarine and the expedition yacht where they will stay. The mission specialists will also be able to take time out of their day to explore the massive debris field surrounding the ship, which has been relatively undisturbed for the better part of the 20th century.

The May 2018 trip is already booked, but there are still talks of trips in summer 2019.

Scientists predict that the Titanic will be taken over by rust-eating bacteria by 2030, so this may be one of the last times true fans of the ship will have an opportunity to see the ship before it wastes away forever.