YouTuber reveals his close call on OceanGate Titanic submersible before it imploded

Jake Koehler, known as DALLMYD on YouTube, narrowly escaped a potential disaster on OceanGate's Titan submersible just days before the fatal dive on June 18, which claimed the lives of all five onboard.

Scheduled for a once-in-a-lifetime dive into the Titanic shipwreck on the submersible, Jake's dive was ultimately cancelled due to control malfunctions and inclement weather. However, he did participate in a test dive alongside OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, who tragically lost his life in the subsequent implosion.

Jake Koehler, who chronicled his nine-day excursion aboard the OceanGate Titan submersible in a 26-minute video on his YouTube channel, DALLMYD, boasts over 13.5 million subscribers. His channel primarily features videos of his thrilling marine adventures and discoveries.

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Before the Mission 3

• According to Jake's vlog documenting his highly anticipated expedition (Mission 3), the Titan's two previous dives had to be cancelled as well.

• Due to harsh weather conditions near the Titanic wreckage site and damage caused by a ghost net entangling the Titan's bottom, resulting in the breakage of various components, OceanGate had to call off the dives.

The Mission 3

• During routine engineering dives leading up to the tragic incident (Mission 5), Jake and the OceanGate team encountered issues with one of the onboard computers.

• Combined with rough seas and communication difficulties, these problems led to the cancellation of Jake's dive into the Titanic.
• Instead, he only had the opportunity to undertake a test dive that reached a depth of 3,000 feet, a quarter of the Titanic's resting place, which lies approximately 12,000 feet below sea level.

In a chilling video documenting his time on the excursion, Jake expressed relief at having narrowly avoided a potentially tragic fate. He acknowledged the lives lost on the ill-fated trip in a somber voiceover. The video also showcased the now-infamous $30 Logitech controller used to steer the submersible, serving as a stark reminder of the close call.

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Reflecting on his experience, Jake recounted, "It's surreal to think that if the weather had cleared up and conditions were perfect, and Stockton had asked me if I wanted to go, I would've accepted, and my fate could've been just like the five who lost their lives on that same submarine."

Alarms blaring

• In the video, Jake shared his experiences before the dive, including the Titan undergoing repairs in a nearby cove before setting off to sea.
• CEO Stockton Rush expressed his concern over the submersible's control system, referring to it as the "brains" of the sub, and emphasised the need to address the issue before proceeding.
• Another significant problem with the submersible was the communication inconsistency between the two control pods on top of the submersible.

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• He also acknowledged that he couldn't affirmatively confirm whether the control pod issue discussed by Rush was the exact cause of the subsequent implosion.

Reflecting on the incidents, Jake said, "Your guess is as good as mine. It could have been anything. Every day, they encountered some problems, but at the time, it seemed like an everyday thing."

Fortunately, for Jake, his dive into the Titanic did not materialise, sparing him from the devastating outcome that the submersible met on its fifth mission.

One of the deceased in the implosion, French explorer Paul-Henry Nargeolet (PH) was onboard the mother ship, Polar Prince, during the nine-day excursion. Jake considered himself lucky to get an autograph from the Frenchman, probably his last autograph.

Jake Koehler's video provided valuable insights into the events leading up to the submersible's disappearance, shedding light on concerns regarding control systems and the turbulent conditions that plagued the ill-fated mission. As the investigation progresses, the full extent of the circumstances surrounding this devastating incident will hopefully come to light.