A seasoned submersible scientist expressed grave concerns about the missing OceanGate submersible, fearing a catastrophic implosion as the most likely scenario. The vessel, carrying five people to the Titanic wreckage, lost contact on Sunday. Steve Somlyody, a Florida-based research scientist with two decades of experience in the field, believes the lack of communication suggests a critical failure. "The immense pressure at 4,000 meters, approximately 5,800 PSI, means any leak would result in an instantaneous implosion," Somlyody explained in an interview, emphasizing he spoke independently and not on behalf of his employer, scientific research firm Battelle.

Somlyody, who previously contributed to the search for MH370, highlighted the limited rescue options. He pointed to the HOV Alvin and the U.S. Navy's DSRV as the only U.S. vessels capable of reaching such depths. However, deploying them would require significant preparation and transport time, a critical factor considering the reported 72-hour oxygen supply on the missing sub. Even if the OceanGate utilized its emergency buoyancy mechanisms, surfacing could take up to ten hours, a process that should be detectable by the sonobuoys used in the search. The absence of any such detection amplifies the worry.

While submersibles like the OceanGate typically have multiple redundancy systems for both life support and surfacing, the lack of any signal is concerning. The scientist's insights, combined with the ongoing search efforts, paint a grim picture of the situation.