In 2011, adventurer Josh Gates shot footage inside the Titan submersible for his Expedition Unknown series. Gates ultimately opted not to finish production on the planned episode after a “disturbing” interview with OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush and what’s described as a “problematic test dive.” Discovery Channel’s Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster reveals Gates’ footage, which has never been released, along with interviews with technicians and other who worked on Titan’s test dive.
The above clip shows three minutes of footage around the time of a loud bang. That bang is now believed to have been the implosion of the Titan submersible. The two-hour special will air on May 28, 2025 at 9pm ET/PT on Discovery.
“Implosion: The Titanic Implosion Disaster explores the factors leading up to that fateful day, from the founding of the OceanGate company by CEO Stockton Rush to the start of construction of the Titan – a first-of-its-kind carbon fiber submersible designed to take tourists down to the Titanic for a trip of a lifetime,” reads Discovery Channel’s synopsis. “The special provides a detailed account of the final mission, culminating in the tragic implosion, and igniting conversations about the necessary parameters of deep-sea exploration and safety protocol in the aftermath.”
The Titan sub disaster special features video from inside the submersible along with unprecedented access to the United States Coast Guard’s Marine Board of Investigation.
“The Titan story captivated the world’s attention from the moment the vessel lost contact with the surface,” stated Howard Lee, Chief Creative Officer of US Networks and President of Discovery Networks. “In this special, we will probe into the fascination with exploration, the risks that we are willing to take, and the ultimate price one can pay when pushing the limits of technology. It is a compelling journey into the haunting reality of this tragedy.”