Tourists visit the Titanic two miles under the sea - PHOTOS

Visiting the Titanic proves eerie and awe-inspiring

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A bathtub discovered in the sunken Titanic

Photo by � AP

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Deep Ocean Expeditions also provides trips to view the wreckage of the Bismark, which was struck down by the Royal Navy in 1941 off the coast of Ireland. Both the Bismark and the Titanic wreckages were discovered by oceanographer Dr. Robert Ballard in the 80s.

Nearly 150 passengers have been able to visit the Titanic’s remains over the past ten years over 200 separate dives. But the experience comes, not surprisingly, with a hefty price tag of $59,000.

For the tours, passengers take a ship out of Newfoundland to the Titanic’s site. Once there, “the passengers are generally given a day to familiarise themselves with the craft and have a briefing about the forthcoming trip; they then attend lectures in Titanic history, oceanography and deep-sea operations,” says McCallum.

The next morning the dive begins, taking about two hours to reach the depth of the wreckage. Along with the sights of the Titanic, passengers will be exposed to a strange world in the darkness of the depths of the sea, coming in close contact with the oddities of sea-life below.

“Even so, nothing can beat the awesome image of the Titanic itself,” says McCallum.

Despite the staggering price tag for the up-close tours, 2012 is the most booked year for tours yet, says McCallum, which is due mainly to the upcoming centenary of the ship’s sinking.

2012, however, will also be the last year for tours to the Titanic.

“It has been a wonderful adventure,” said McCallum of the 13 years of Titanic tours. “But with the centenary approaching, now is the proper moment to draw these expeditions to a close and allow this tragic ship to rest in peace.”

“It will be an honour to see the Titanic, in all her ruined glory, one last time.”

Check out more recently released photos from the Titanic on IrishCentral.

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