'The Simpsons' Producer Who Was On Titanic's Submarine Reveals What It's Like to Be Lost in the Ocean's Depths
Mike Reiss has already done the expedition three times, and each time communication has been a problem; he talks about the need to sign a term that, on the first page alone, mentions death three times
Mike Reiss has already done the expedition three times, and each time communication has been a problem; he talks about the need to sign a term that, on the first page alone, mentions death three times.
Mike Reiss, American television writer, known for producing 'The Simpsons', visited the wreck of the Titanic at the end of 2022 on the submersible Titan , which has been missing in the Atlantic Ocean since Sunday, 18. He reported that the vessel had already presented problems in every time he went to the expedition, the last time he was out of communication for about three hours and had to look for the wreck alone in the dark. In an interview with the British newspaper 'BBC' , he told how the experience of being 'lost' in the depths of the Ocean was.
“The experience of the descent was super relaxing. It's a beautifully designed submarine, and the feel inside is almost spa-like. Even with five people sitting on the floor, it's comfortable," Reiss said, adding that it's 2:30 am falling silent. “There is a viewfinder, but all you see is darkness,” he reported. However, that sense of comfort disappeared when the Titan lost connection. “The compass immediately stopped working and started to spin, so we had to move blindly on the ocean floor”, said the writer, who classified the experience as 'disorienting' and was already preparing to not leave the expedition alive.
“I got in the sub and in the back of my mind was 'well, maybe I'll never get out of this thing'. This is not to say that the vessel is of poor quality or anything like that, but this is all new technology and they are learning as they go.” Reiss informed that before boarding, everyone needs to sign a term that talks about the risks of the expedition. “You sign a document before boarding, and on the first page death is mentioned three times.” Reiss said he was not optimistic about rescuing the crew. The Titanic sank on its maiden voyage between the English city of Southampton and New York in 1912 after colliding with an iceberg. Of the 2,224 people on board, around 1,500 died. The wreckage of the ocean liner, split in half, was discovered in 1985. Since then, the area has been visited by treasure hunters and tourists alike.
