Dr. Robert Ballard
1. How do you feel the Titanic wreck's finding will impact the maritime world and help in other deep-sea discoveries?
“Finding the TITANIC was so important to so many, because of the severe loss of life, and that it could have easily been prevented. If the Captain and crew reviewed and relied more on the all telegraphed messages coming in from other ships about the unusual amount of icebergs in the area at the time, tragedy could easily have been avoided.
With that being said, many more safeguards and precautions are taken much more seriously today, so events of this type should have a better outcome. Exploring with ROV’s will increase as long as there is funding and improving technology. It is inevitable. We can dive deeper and faster than in unmanned ROV's. Who knows what we’ll find out about our planet and how it was formed and what changes it is undergoing. I always say that the next discovery will be my favorite. It is very exciting to be a part of these missions.”
“Finding the TITANIC was so important to so many, because of the severe loss of life, and that it could have easily been prevented. If the Captain and crew reviewed and relied more on the all telegraphed messages coming in from other ships about the unusual amount of icebergs in the area at the time, tragedy could easily have been avoided.
With that being said, many more safeguards and precautions are taken much more seriously today, so events of this type should have a better outcome. Exploring with ROV’s will increase as long as there is funding and improving technology. It is inevitable. We can dive deeper and faster than in unmanned ROV's. Who knows what we’ll find out about our planet and how it was formed and what changes it is undergoing. I always say that the next discovery will be my favorite. It is very exciting to be a part of these missions.”
2. What were your biggest accomplishments on the series of dives recovering artifacts from the ship, and did you find anything that surprised you?
“All of our dives were for exploration purposes only, to take photos, measurement, and to check out the condition of the TITANIC after so many years. My team and I have not removed one item. I strongly believe that it is the final resting place of many souls and it should have been left undisturbed. I am working to prevent further destruction and pilfering of TITANIC’s artifacts."
“All of our dives were for exploration purposes only, to take photos, measurement, and to check out the condition of the TITANIC after so many years. My team and I have not removed one item. I strongly believe that it is the final resting place of many souls and it should have been left undisturbed. I am working to prevent further destruction and pilfering of TITANIC’s artifacts."
3. How does the exploration on the ship continue to teach us about underwater ecosystems and the Titanic's sinking?
“At this moment, I have no plans to go back to the TITANIC. We are getting ready for our 2013 season on the Exploration Vehicle E/V NAUTILUS, where we will be in the Caribbean."
“At this moment, I have no plans to go back to the TITANIC. We are getting ready for our 2013 season on the Exploration Vehicle E/V NAUTILUS, where we will be in the Caribbean."