French oceanographer Paul-Henri Nargeolet has become a celebrated figure in his home country due to his extensive experience exploring the depths of the ocean, particularly with his remarkable 37 dives to the Titanic shipwreck.
Before his expeditions to the famous wreckage site in the Atlantic Ocean, Nargeolet served in the French Navy for over two decades, earning him the nickname ‘Mr. Titanic’ among his admirers.
Mr. Nargeolet, 77, is the director of underwater research for RMS Titanic, Inc., an American company that owns the salvage rights to the famous wreck and displays many of the artifacts at Titanic exhibitions.
The company conducted eight research and recovery expeditions between 1987 and 2010, according to its website.
The dozens of dives Mr. Nargeolet has made to the wreck site include previous OceanGate expeditions on the Titan, the missing submersible.
In 2022, he enabled the discovery of an ‘extraordinarily biodiverse abyssal ecosystem on a previously unknown basalt formation near the Titanic,’ according to the company.
His profound knowledge of the Titanic’s history and his captivating imagery captured during his dives played a significant role in inspiring James Cameron’s blockbuster film in 1997.
However, Nargeolet’s most recent expedition to the Titanic took a dramatic turn when he and four others found themselves trapped inside the missing Titan submarine.
According to DailyMail, Nargeolet’s lifelong passion for diving and the mysteries of the ocean began at the young age of nine when he first encountered a wreck while observing divers in Morocco.
Driven by his passion, he joined the French Navy, where he spent 22 years specializing in mine disposal.
Over time, Nargeolet became a leading authority on the Titanic, immersing himself in extensive research and becoming well-versed in the subject matter.
In 1987, he achieved a significant milestone by being the first person to retrieve an object, a silver plate, from the Titanic.
Since his inaugural dive in 1987, Nargeolet has spearheaded numerous expeditions to the submerged cruiser off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.
He played a pivotal role in overseeing the recovery of thousands of artefacts, including the colossal 20-ton section of the Titanic’s hull, solidifying his reputation as a prominent figure in underwater exploration.
Mr. Nargeolet’s company, RMS Titanic, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
On Sunday, in a statement on Twitter, it expressed ‘heartfelt support to the Boston Coast Guard during their search and rescue mission’ but made no mention of Mr. Nargeolet.
While Mr. Nargeolet was born in Chamonix, in the French Alps, he has devoted his career to the ocean.
He was an amateur diver in his youth before joining the French Navy in 1964, according to a biography published on the website of the Cité de la Mer, an oceanography museum in Cherbourg, France, that has hosted exhibitions of objects salvaged from the wreck and that has collaborated with Mr. Nargeolet.
