Nargeolet, a 77-year-old retired French navy commander, was the director of underwater analysis for a media and exhibition firm whose affiliate, RMS Titanic, is the unique steward of the wreck.
Nargeolet, nicknamed P.H., had “an unparalleled data” of the wreckage, mentioned Brandon Whited, trustee of the Titanic Worldwide Society, which traveled to the positioning with Nargeolet within the Nineteen Nineties. Nargeolet may establish items of the ship’s stern, which is in shambles on the ocean flooring, “like nobody else can,” Whited mentioned.
“He really is aware of the ship and has virtually an unbelievable ardour for it,” Whited mentioned.
Nargeolet was born in Chamonix, France, and likewise lived throughout Africa for 13 years along with his household. He served as a submarine pilot, ship captain and deep diver throughout his 20 years within the French navy, in keeping with his LinkedIn profile.
Whereas working on the French marine science analysis institute IFREMER, Nargeolet ventured right down to the Titanic for the primary time in 1987 — two years after the wreckage was discovered. He advised HarperCollins final 12 months that he had supposed to go in 1986, however the plan didn’t pan out.
Nargeolet described descending in a small submarine and silence falling when the passengers arrived on the wreck to see shining bronze anchors and chains, buffed clear by the ocean, the print on them saying they had been made in Glasgow nonetheless clear.
“We had been extraordinarily glad, lastly, to begin to dive to the Titanic,” he advised HarperCollins in French. “And we completely didn’t know on the time that I might return as typically as I’ve been capable of do.”
Since then, Nargeolet led “a number of expeditions” to the positioning, accomplished 37 submersible dives — together with with OceanGate — and oversaw the restoration of 5,000 artifacts, in keeping with a biography on his firm’s web site.
Final 12 months, Nargeolet printed a e book on the ship in French: “Dans les profondeurs du Titanic,” or “Within the Depths of the Titanic.”
“He knew that space so properly. That’s what’s so tragic,” mentioned Michael Findlay, former president of the Titanic Worldwide Society and a pal of Nargeolet. “He’s made extra dives to that location than anybody. And the truth that he’s amongst these which are lacking, it’s virtually too unimaginable to grasp.”