An underwater implosion denotes the abrupt inward collapse of a vessel, typically occurring when it is subjected to immense pressure at significant depths. The precise location and depth at which the implosion transpired in the case of the Titan submersible remain unclear. However, it is worth noting that the Titanic wreck lies at an approximate depth of nearly 13,000 feet (almost 4,000 meters) below sea level. The submersible had been descending for about 1 hour and 45 minutes, nearing the end of its approximately 2-hour journey, when all contact was lost.
At the depth where the Titanic rests, the pressure amounts to approximately 5,600 pounds per square inch, several hundred times greater than the pressure experienced on the surface. Rick Murcar, the international training director at the National Association of Cave Divers, emphasizes the extraordinary magnitude of this pressure.
A catastrophic implosion occurs swiftly, unfolding within a fraction of a millisecond. Aileen Maria Marty, a former Naval officer and professor at Florida International University, explains that the collapse would have taken place so rapidly that the occupants inside the submersible would not even have had time to comprehend the impending danger. She asserts that, from a physiological standpoint, this type of demise would be painless, as the individuals inside would be unaware of the unfolding catastrophe.
Experts express skepticism regarding the likelihood of recovering any bodies from the wreckage. While the US Coast Guard has committed to continuing the search to salvage whatever can be found, they caution that the underwater environment presents an extraordinarily harsh and unforgiving setting on the seabed.