[mrweasel]

The whole idea was/is weird. I can understand undertaking a certain level of risk to get an amazing view of the Titanic, or some other wreck or reef, but that wasn't even what was offered. Regardless of who offered this dive and how it was managed, there would always have been some risk. That risk had to be stupid low for what was offered, a tiny window, offering a really poor viewing experience. It not even like the was a massive glass dome and you could pan around the wreck for hours just looking at it from a multitude of angels. Notice how all the videos and photos are always taken from the outside of the submersible.

The cost and risk, as compared to what was on offer never matched up.

[poincaredisk]

I imagine the real offer was a certain thrill and uniqueness. People do base jumping, motocykle street racing, free solo climbing on skycrappers, and various other incredibly risky things for a reason. Maybe adrenaline hiy, maybe experience, but certainly not a well thought of risk/benefit balance sheet.

[coldtea]

>That risk had to be stupid low for what was offered, a tiny window, offering a really poor viewing experience.

The experience (whether worth the risk or not) was about the adventure and being down there, not the size of the view.

[JKCalhoun]

If you look at the passengers they seem to generally be people wholly obsessed with the Titanic. So I don't think these dives were ever going to be attractive to you and I — the more casually curious.

[voisin]

> amazing view of the Titanic

This is the sort of experience where I doubt the view was anywhere as good as what an unmanned vehicle that prioritized lighting and filming could capture. I suspect this was far more about being able to say “I spent $[huge amount of money] and got to see it with my own eyes” even though the view was probably pretty shit with everyone crowded around a small dome.

[Someone]

They didn’t offer just that, but also bragging rights for people for whom a few $100k is peanuts.

Basically the same reason people climb Everest and not peaks ‘nobody’ knows about that are a lot less crowded.

[sho_hn]

You don't understand the psychology of safari tourism.

A cramped interior and a small window, making the thing feel harder and less attainable, amps up the excitement.