Billionaire Larry Connor stated, “I want to show people everywhere that while the ocean is extremely powerful, it can be wonderful and enjoyable.”
Larry Connor, a billionaire from Ohio, is preparing to use a specially made submarine to survey the Titanic debris. This audacious endeavor follows the devastating demise of OceanGate’s submarine.
According to Patrick Lahey of Triton Submarines, a leading brand in personal submersibles, Larry contacted them shortly after the accident. Larry wanted to show that it could be done correctly by building a submersible that could reliably and safely reach the Titanic. “You know, what we need to do is build a sub that can dive to [Titanic-level depths] repeatedly and safely and demonstrate to the world that you guys can do that, and that Titan was a contraption,” Lahey recalled Larry saying.
The outcome is the Abyssal Explorer, Triton 4000/2. At $20 million, this cutting-edge, two-person craft is intended for several deep-sea dives to approximately 4,000 meters—deeper than the Titanic’s final resting place of 3,800 meters.
Larry emphasized that this sub is now feasible thanks to new materials and technologies—technologies that were unimaginable just five years ago. He revealed, “Patrick has spent more than ten years planning and developing this. However, we lacked the resources and technology. This sub could not have been constructed five years ago.
Larry has explored the Mariana Trench before, so he’s not afraid to go deep. To demonstrate that it can be done correctly, he and Patrick intend to utilize the Abyssal Explorer to safely approach the Titanic. Larry explained his guiding principles: “Even though the ocean is incredibly powerful, if you approach it the right way, it can be wonderful, enjoyable, and really kind of life-changing.”
Following the tragic event with OceanGate’s Titan submarine in June 2023, Lahey acknowledged that a lot of people lost interest in deep-sea vehicles. He claimed that “people’s interest in these vehicles was chilled by this tragedy.” “It revived antiquated beliefs that someone insane could partake in one of these activities.”
But Lahey emphasized that there was a big difference between OceanGate’s experimental designs and authorized submersibles like Titan’s. In contrast with OceanGate’s nonstandard methods, certified subs are considered safe and compliant.
But Lahey emphasized that there was a big difference between OceanGate’s experimental designs and authorized submersibles like Titan’s. In contrast with OceanGate’s nonstandard methods, certified subs are considered safe and compliant.
This was also expressed by billionaire investor Ray Dalio, who backed Titan Submarines alongside Hollywood filmmaker James Cameron. He still has faith in the dependability of licensed submarines notwithstanding the events surrounding OceanGate. “They were experimental, they lacked certification, and they weren’t representative of what subs are,” said Dalio. A knowledgeable person wouldn’t hesitate to make a reservation.
