Guillermo Söhnlein, the co-founder and former CEO of OceanGate, is set to return to the depths of the ocean to explore a “virtually unexplored” sinkhole, despite the tragic implosion of his former company’s submersible last year.
Söhnlein, who co-founded OceanGate in 2009 with Stockton Rush, is now leading a new deep-sea venture with Blue Marble Exploration. Söhnlein’s return to deep-sea exploration comes in the wake of the OceanGate disaster, which claimed the life of his co-founder Stockton Rush and four others during a dive into the Titanic wreck in June 2023. After leaving OceanGate, Söhnlein launched Blue Marble Exploration, focusing on new underwater missions.
The New Mission: Dean’s Blue Hole
This year, Söhnlein plans to embark on a high-risk expedition to “Dean’s Blue Hole,” located in the Bahamas. Joining him will be scientist Kenny Broad and former NASA astronaut and chief medical officer Scott Parazynski. The mission aims to uncover unprecedented findings within one of the world’s deepest ocean sinkholes. “To date, Dean’s Blue Hole has been virtually unexplored,” stated Blue Marble Exploration on their website. “Venturing into uncharted waters, our team will have to ‘expect the unexpected.'” Dean’s Blue Hole, measuring 664 feet deep, is surrounded by a stunning beach on a remote Bahamian island. Formed approximately 15,000 years ago, this sinkhole remains largely unknown due to its extreme depth. It has a distinctive “vase” shape, with a narrow opening near the surface leading to a wider chamber below.
Challenges and Risks
The expedition faces numerous challenges, including potential openings connecting the sinkhole to the Atlantic Ocean. These connections could create unforeseen currents and thermal layers, complicating underwater operations. “There is a certain amount of unpredictability our team will face in new territory,” noted Blue Marble Exploration. The immense pressure at the bottom of the hole, nearly 300 pounds per square inch, adds to the mission’s difficulty. Most of the sinkhole is in complete darkness due to its narrow opening. Local legends add a chilling dimension, with some believing Dean’s Blue Hole to be a portal to hell. Several drownings occur each year, and the team expects to find human remains, which they will handle with respect for the families.
Reflections on the OceanGate Tragedy
The dive to Dean’s Blue Hole, at 663 feet, is significantly shallower than the Titanic wreck, located more than 12,500 feet below the North Atlantic surface. On June 18, 2023, OceanGate’s Titan submersible embarked on a journey with five passengers, including Rush, French Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, and three tourists. The submersible lost communication with its surface ship approximately one hour and 45 minutes into the dive, just before reaching the Titanic wreck. After nearly five days of searching, the US Coast Guard found debris consistent with a catastrophic implosion near the Titanic site. All five passengers were killed instantly by the immense underwater pressure. As Söhnlein prepares for his new mission, the legacy of OceanGate’s tragic voyage serves as a stark reminder of the perils of deep-sea exploration.