Josh Gates Refused Second Titanic Sub Trip Over Safety Concerns
Expedition: Unknown host Josh Gates had a chance to travel on the submersible that took people to the Titanic. However, he has now revealed that he turned down the chance to go visit the Titanic on the sub and his reasoning makes it sound like this possible disaster could have been averted.
Here is what Gates had to say about the missing sub and why he chose not to take the trip himself.
Josh Gates turned down trip on missing Titanic sub
Josh Gates, the host of Discover Channel‘s Expedition: Unknown, has done a lot of crazy things over his life when exploring the unknown. However, not even Gates was willing to take a trip to see the Titanic on the OceanGate submersible Titan. In a series of Twitter posts, Gates said that it was a “huge opportunity” but after taking a test trip on the submersible, he said there wouldn’t be a second trip.
In the first post, Gates said that he had a “unique opportunity” to dive in the OceanGate Titan sub. OceanGate cofounder, Stockton Rush, was at the helm and offered him a chance to go on the trip to film the Titanic. Gates ended up rejecting the opportunity. With the sub now missing, Gates sent out his prayers for a positive outcome. He also mentioned that Hamish Harding, one of the missing passengers, is an Explorer’s Club member.
Fans asked why Josh Gates rejected the opportunity to travel on the Titanic. He said it was because he had serious doubts about the safety of the Titan submersible. According to Gates, the Titan “did not perform well on my dive.” He then walked away because of safety concerns. Gates also said that there is a lot of information about the history and design of the Titan that is not public, calling it “concerning.”
There were also fans who wondered why anyone would risk it on a trip to see the Titanic. While Gates turned it down, he completely understood why people would want to see the Titanic up close. “The ship has fascinated the world since the night she sank. It’s a time capsule to another era of our history. It takes courage to make a trip like this.”
Josh Gates isn’t the only person with concerns about Titanic sub
In 2018, OceanGate fired the original pilot of the Titan, David Lochridge. The reason they terminated him was that he broke his PDA with the company when he revealed his concerns about the submersible. While they claimed the PDA was the reason they fired him, it happened right after he made concerns about the design and testing of the minisub’s hull.
I had the unique opportunity to dive in the @Oceangate #Titan sub with Stockton at the helm in preparation for its maiden mission to Titanic. I pray for a positive outcome to the rescue efforts of those aboard, including fellow @ExplorersClub member Hamish Harding. pic.twitter.com/z6jjLf6tO6
— Josh Gates (@joshuagates) June 21, 2023
OceanGate sued Lochridge for breach of contract, fraud, and misappropriation of trade secrets, but he countersued the company. The two settled out of court. However, five years later, the sub is lost and both David Lochridge and Josh Gates’s concerns proved true.
What are your thoughts about Josh Gates’s comments about the missing Titanic sub? Could his concerns have somehow helped the possible fate of the sub and its passengers? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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If Josh Gates had his concerns they should’ve made sure everything was OK checked and double checked it’s man goes anywhere and does anything but that’s my opinion.
If he wouldn’t do it know one should