It’s been 40 years since a team from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution discovered the wreck of RMS Titanic. In July 1986, a year after pinpointing the location, they returned with a three-person submersible called Alvin. Led by Bob Ballard, the team inside Alvin became the first people to see the ship since its sinking.
Since then, exploration of the wreck has allowed researchers to better understand what happened on that fatal night in April 1912. The technology used to study the wreck has advanced considerably, and the ship itself has changed, too. And, of course, a half-dozen people died while trying to dive to the wreck site.
Four decades on, you can now watch long-unseen footage from the moment of discovery.
The WHOI released this image of the railings as part of their 40th anniversary celebrations. Photo: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
When Alvin visited the wreck
In the footage released on their YouTube channel, we see the WHOI expedition from 1986. Recorded by Alvin and an accompanying ROV, the footage shows the wreck much less decayed than it is currently. Cutting between feeds, we watch Alvin land on the bow, and see into an officer’s cabin and through a promenade window.
The archival film is a fascinating historical record; it would probably also do rather well at film festivals. The striking visuals are paired with instrumental backing music, and the atmosphere is eerie and hypnotic.
Panning shots reveal the scope of the site, from the massive bulk of the ship to the extensive debris field. After so many decades of rot and marine growth, the ship looks like something organic. Clouds of dust and flecks of decaying matter swirl in the black water, catching the light like fireflies.
In another section of footage, viewers watch alongside the team as exterior cameras from Alvin and the ROV appear on either side of the screen. Though the footage focuses on the wreck, we also see how the exploration worked, with shots of the vehicles drifting through and around the site.
The WHOI also released a shorter video, likewise fascinating but with a very different tone. This brief clip captured the moment the team confirmed they’d discovered RMS Titanic, complete with raucous cheering.
Watch the footage for yourself below; trust me, words don’t do it justice.
