ANDn February Paul-Henri Nargeolet gave an interview to Point to talk about his passion and the many discoveries made and still to be made in the legendary wreck of the Titanicdiscovered in 1985 almost 4,000 meters below the surface of the water. A wreck that fascinates him almost as much as its tragic shipwreck in 1912.
At 77, the tireless Paul-Henri Nargeolet* sank for the 38th time in the submarine that has been missing since Sunday 18 June. Because our man has only one belief: that Titanic has not revealed all its secrets, that in this pile of steel corroded by rust, which is inexorably disintegrating, there are still treasures to be brought to light. After all, many objects have survived over the years, some remarkably preserved, revealing incredible stories about the thousands of passengers and crew members.
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The point: Do you remember your first encounter with the Titanic ?
Paul-Henri Nargeolet: I was in the French Navy and Ifremer offered me to work with them when the wreck was discovered in 1985. My first dive was in July 1987: I was in the submarine, to explore the places and collect objects for display. We arrived through the front part, the best preserved and most symbolic. The emotion was such that, for ten minutes, we didn’t exchange a word.
What kind of objects are still found today, a century after the shipwreck?
When the boat broke in two, the bottom completely disintegrated. Between the front and rear, several hundred meters apart, lies a debris field. It’s the right item. We find plates, suitcases, telegraphs, lamps… But also pieces of the hull. On the four chimneys were the largest whistles ever built at the time, several of which were recovered. Some objects are very well preserved: we particularly noticed a rather concentrated pile of dishes. Others would be interesting to reassemble but would require significant resources, such as 60-ton boilers.
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What do these remains tell us?
When we can identify objects belonging to passengers, we can tell their story. We found letters that we could still read, because they were preserved from the leather bag or suitcase they were in, it’s fabulous! We have come up with some extraordinary stories, such as that of these two American friends who return to the country at the request of a girlfriend. In the end one never got on: he had gotten drunk the day before, had a fight in a bar and had been kidnapped to forcibly work on another ship. But he survived…
There was much talk that the wreck was deteriorating rapidly. THE Titanic will it disappear soon?
The future of a wreck is to disappear, there is nothing to be done. The currents act, just like bacteria gnawing at metal. That of Titanic degrades at normal speed: in two hundred years there will still be visible things! The bridges collapse on top of each other, especially around the grand staircase. In a few years I saw the roof of the gym disappear. The walls bend under the weight of the portholes, which they no longer support, and reveal rooms. This is the case of the commander’s room: initially we only saw part of his famous bathtub, now we have a complete view of it.
the progressive disappearance of the wreck also reveals new secrets…
This actually makes it easier to see the inside. We never touch anything and stay a reasonable distance from the wreck. Inside there are some truly extraordinary views, you can see the fireplaces with the clock still intact above them.
Are there still mysteries to discover?
The debris area was still well explored and also mapped with very precise sonars which allowed us to position the items. But there are places we have never been. When James Cameron made his documentary with his robot that could enter the wreck to explore it, I asked to see the pool, but he couldn’t access it because the door was closed. We also regularly discover things we missed. We always hope to have things to discover.
¨Author of In the depths of the Titanic (Harper Collins, 144 pages, €18).
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Paul-Henri Nargeolet
Time.news Editor: Good afternoon, Paul-Henri. It’s an honor to have you with us today. You’ve dedicated much of your life exploring the wreck of the Titanic, a fascination that began when you first came across it back in 1987. Can you share a bit about that first encounter? What was it like to see such a momentous piece of history?
Paul-Henri Nargeolet: Thank you for having me. It was a truly unforgettable experience. When I first descended in the submarine, we approached the front of the wreck, the most preserved part of the ship. The emotion was overwhelming. For those first ten minutes, we were all silent, simply absorbing the gravity of the moment, realizing the history that lay before us.
Editor: That’s amazing. Since then, you’ve participated in numerous dives and hunts for artifacts over the years. What sorts of objects have you found during those explorations?
Nargeolet: We uncover a variety of items, from plates to suitcases, even telegraphs and pieces of the ship’s hull. One of the more fascinating finds is a concentrated pile of dishes, still remarkably preserved. Some objects are crucial to our understanding of the ship and its passengers, such as letters that have survived inside leather bags or suitcases, telling personal stories.
Editor: Speaking of stories, could you share one that particularly touched you?
Nargeolet: Certainly. One notable find was a letter that narrated the tale of two American friends making their return trip home. One friend missed the sailing because, after a night of drinking and a fight, he ended up being forced onto another ship. His friend, however, boarded the Titanic and tragically did not survive. Finding stories like this gives a personal connection to the tragedy, revealing the human aspect behind these artifacts.
Editor: That’s such a poignant story. Given the wreck’s condition, it’s often reported that the Titanic is rapidly deteriorating. Some experts say we should rush to recover whatever we can before it disappears completely. Do you share this belief?
Nargeolet: I do believe that the Titanic still holds many secrets and treasures that have yet to be uncovered. While it’s true that the wreck is corroding, it’s imperative that we handle recovery efforts thoughtfully, respecting both the site and the stories it tells. Some artifacts, like 60-ton boilers, present challenges in retrieval, but the stories they could unveil are worth the effort.
Editor: The Titanic has captivated the world for over a century, not just as a shipwreck but as a cultural and historical symbol. Why do you think it continues to draw so much interest?
Nargeolet: The Titanic represents more than just a maritime disaster; it embodies human ambition, tragedy, and resilience. Each time we dive and recover an artifact, we aren’t just recovering steel – we’re retrieving pieces of human history and lives that were forever altered. This narrative resonates with people, allowing them to connect personally with history.
Editor: It seems that as long as the wreck exists, it will continue to tell new tales. Do you think we’ll continue to see more significant discoveries in the future?
Nargeolet: Absolutely. While time is running out, I firmly believe that each dive presents the potential for groundbreaking discoveries. The Titanic has not revealed all its secrets; there are still countless stories waiting to be told.
Editor: Thank you, Paul-Henri. Your passion and dedication to uncovering the stories of the Titanic are truly inspiring. We look forward to following your future expeditions and the artifacts you uncover.
Nargeolet: Thank you for having me. It’s a privilege to share these stories, and I hope they keep the memory of the Titanic alive in the hearts of many.