A submarine dive by the team aboard Seabourn Pursuit, Seabourn’s newest expedition ship, has uncovered a ship lost for 110 years off the coast of Alejandro Selkirk Island in Chile’s Juan Fernández Archipelago.
German supplier ship Titania was scuttled in 1914, but was found lying 95 metres below the surface on October 14 by Pursuit’s submarine team, which included Kieran Buckley, Henrik Enckell and Isaac Yebra, and was led by pilot Mauricio Fernandez.
It was confirmed by Selkirk Island’s Harbour Master that no other diver or submarine had visited the wreck before.
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Fernandez described it as an emotional experience for those who were there. “We were there witnessing history, and our guests had the chance to be a part of this discovery of Titania and the first to see this ship after she sank to the bottom of the ocean 110 years ago,” he said.
“This was truly a special moment of discovery and a perfect example of how Seabourn expeditions continue to provide our guests with incredible Seabourn Moments throughout each journey.”
Indeed, Seabourn Pursuit guest Irene Blum was in the submarine at the time of the discovery and describes it as an “almost magical” experience. “It really was quite extraordinary,” she said.
The historic discovery was the result of a collaboration with local fisherman Gino Perez who had heard stories about the wreck’s approximate location. Perez joined the dive and helped guide the Seabourn Pursuit team towards the site of the wreck.
For him, the discovery was particularly poignant. “I imagined this ship so many times and now I can see where she is, how she looks like and how she is resting at the bottom,” he said.
“Experiences like these are a testament to the spirit of expedition, and this discovery is nothing short of historic,” Seabourn Vice President and General Manager of Expeditions Robin West said.
“Seabourn’s expeditions and particularly our submarine explorations often take our guests to places where no other human has ever explored. I am so incredibly proud of our expedition team for delivering this once-in-a-lifetime and truly unforgettable ‘Seabourn Moment’ to our guests and the local community on Selkirk Island.”
