Imagine Exhibitions President and CEO Tom Zaller recounted his extraordinary voyage to the Titanic wreckage, offering a firsthand perspective on the challenges and profound impact of the deep-sea expedition. In a recent interview, Zaller shared details of his 12.5-hour journey in a Mir submersible, a vessel different from the missing Titan, to the ocean floor, where the Titanic rests over two miles beneath the surface.

Zaller's connection to the Titanic began in 1998 through his involvement in producing Titanic exhibitions globally. This deep understanding of the Titanic's story, coupled with his work with related artifacts, provided him the unique opportunity to visit the wreckage site.

The journey commenced in St. John's, Newfoundland, the nearest land to the wreck site, located 800 miles east of Boston. From there, a 36-hour boat trip transported Zaller to the research vessel in the mid-Atlantic, from which the submersible dives were launched. Zaller described the initial anxiety of descending into the ocean's depths for the first time in a submarine. The Mir submersible, equipped with a mechanical arm for deployment, carried three people: the pilot, a photographer, and Zaller as an observer.

Inside the six-foot diameter pressure sphere, with three small portholes, Zaller experienced the gradual shift from vibrant blue waters to complete darkness during the 2.5-hour descent. He emphasized the emotional intensity of the slow, dark journey to the gravesite, comparing it to the anticipation felt in a darkened theater.

Upon reaching the bottom, the submersible stirred up the seabed's silt and sediment, creating a temporary cloud. As the submersible emerged from this cloud, the Titanic came into view. Zaller described the wreck as surprisingly upright and majestic, despite the damage, resting proudly on the ocean floor.

Zaller's experience provided a poignant reminder of the Titanic's grandeur and the solemn nature of its resting place. He noted the bow section's upright position, contrasting it with the stern section located half a mile away, rotated 180 degrees. Zaller's account offers a unique human perspective on the Titanic wreckage, highlighting the technical and emotional complexities of a deep-sea dive to this historic site.