RMS Titanic Inc white logo
RMS Titanic Inc logo

INSIDE TITANIC WRECKSITE

How far down is Titanic? Where did Titanic sink? Get answers to all your questions about the Titanic wrecksite.

dive deeper

For over 30 years, RMS Titanic Inc. (RMST) has served as the entrusted steward of the Titanic wrecksite, which was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2012. Titanic struck an iceberg and sank in 1912, and for 73 years, her final resting place remained a mystery until the groundbreaking discovery of the Ship in 1985 by the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER) and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).  

The discovery of Titanic marked a pivotal moment in history, as it revealed that the Ship had split into two halves, lying 2,000 feet apart. Surrounding both the bow and stern is a vast debris field, covering approximately 15 square miles, where items from the Ship scattered across the ocean floor. RMST has led nine expeditions to the wrecksite since 1987, more than any other organization, contributing to an evolving understanding of the site through extensive historical and scientific research, artifact recovery, high-resolution mapping, and documentation efforts. 

Among the many discoveries made at the wrecksite, scientists identified Halomonas titanicae—a bacteria that creates icicle-like shapes commonly known as rusticles, which are steadily consuming the Ship’s iron structure. The ongoing deterioration of Titanic is not a matter of if but when. Some experts predict recognizable sections of the Ship may collapse within the next 30 years. Over the past four decades of expeditions, RMST has documented the Ship’s progressive decay, observing significant structural changes that signal her eventual disappearance.  

This is why RMST’s work—including wrecksite documentation, scientific research, and artifact recovery—is vital in preserving Titanic’s legacy. By safeguarding what remains of the Ship and sharing her story through Exhibitions, education, and conservation, RMST ensures that Titanic’s history will endure for future generations.

THE WRECKSITE

DISCOVER

DISCOVER

THE WRECKSITE

The bow is the front section of a ship. When Titanic sank, her bow allowed her to cut through the water and land in remarkable condition. From her anchors, forward mast, captain’s bridge, to the Grand Staircase, this half remains the most recognizable of her former glory. The keel and point of impact are now buried in sediment and silt of the ocean floor. While her forwardmost point is the strongest structurally, Titanic is not impervious to the harsh ocean conditions. During the 2024 expedition, it was revealed that a portion of her forward railing had fallen, forever changing this iconic view of the Ship.
Undderwater image of the Bow of the Titanic wreck
The stern, or back section of the ship, rests approximately 2,000 feet south of the bow. Unlike the bow, which descended relatively intact, the stern experienced a violent plunge, spiraling to the ocean floor. The immense pressure and forceful intake of water flooding into the exposed structure caused incredible damage to the structure, leaving the stern mangled and greatly changed from its original form. This breakup also scattered thousands of objects from the Ship’s interiors across the seabed, creating the vast debris field.
Underwater image of the Stern of the Titanic Wreck
This 15 square mile area is known as the debris field. As Titanic descended and crashed into the ocean floor, thousands of objects spilled onto the seabed from the Ship’s interiors. This is where artifacts are carefully and respectfully recovered and documented. During research and mapping expeditions, deep sea scanning devices are used to “mow the lawn” and continuously capture images of the area row by row. Given the vast nature of the debris field, there can be large stretches of sand, rocks, and ocean life between Titanic remnants and artifacts.
Underwater debris field surrounding the Titanic wreck
On September 1, 1985, one of Titanic’s boilers was found and marked the discovery of Ship’s previously unknown resting place. When Titanic split, it opened her Boiler Rooms No. 1 and 2 to the sea, and several of her 29 boilers can be seen scattered in the debris field. Their cast iron construction made them resistant to microbial corrosion, but their massive size and weight means recovery is unlikely.
Underwater image of Titanic's boilers
Several of those who dive to the site will leave a plaque memorializing the tragedy, the expedition, and/or others who were lost. Most are found near the bow of the Ship. During the 2024 expedition, a plaque was laid out in the debris field to honor the legacy of P.H. Nargeolet, an explorer and expedition leader known fondly as “Mr. Titanic” having completed almost 40 dives to the wrecksite.
Underwater image of the plaques around Titanic's wreck to honor those lost
Titanic’s wrecksite is often considered a reverent space, marking one of the greatest maritime disasters. However, it is not impervious to the modern world. With the rise of single-use products and plastics has come the abundance of man-made trash in the ocean, some of which has been found 12,500 feet below the surface at the wrecksite.
Underwater image of trash at the Titanic wreck
Dozens of species of marine life have been found at the wrecksite, dismissing the previously held notion that the depth, pressure, temperature, salinity, oxygen-levels, and lack of light at the site would stop life from appearing. Underwater footage has revealed different species living on or near the two halves of the Ship and along the debris field. Exploring the site has led to a greater understanding of aquatic life found at this depth.
Underwater image of the marine life around the Titanic wreck
Halomonas titanicae, commonly known as rusticles, are the icicle-like rust shapes that appear all over the Ship structure. This type of microbial bacteria is eating and breaking down the Ship’s iron, steadily deteriorating her metal construction. These have formed over the last century since her sinking and will eventually lead to the collapse and disappearance of Titanic.
Rusticles deteriorating Titanic ship wreck

LEARN TITANIC

WRECKSITE facts

Where is the Titanic wrecksite? 963 miles northeast of New York and 453 miles southeast of Newfoundland

How deep is Titanic? 12,500 feet (2.5 miles) below the ocean surface

Dive Time: Approximately 2 hours to arrive. Each manned dive is 12-15 hours

How big is the Titanic debris field? 15 square miles (roughly 2/3 the size of Manhattan, New York)
Distance between Bow and Stern: 2,000 feet (about one-and-a-half times the height of the Empire State Building) 
Titanic Wreck Photos

Ocean Environment & Marine Life

Ocean layer: Bathypelagic (Midnight) Zone, no natural light 

Currents: warm Gulf Stream, cold Western Boundary Undercurrent, and fluctuating thermohaline currents 

Temperature: 34-36 °F (1-2 °C) 

Salinity: 33-35 g/kg 
Marine Life: Sea anemones, rattail (or grenadier) fish, sea cucumbers, jellyfish, shrimp, starfish, and crabs. Less commonly an octopus and ray have been spotted.
Where did the Titanic sink

Distance from Wrecksite to Land

346 nautical miles south-southeast of St. John’s, Canada  610 nautical miles southeast of Halifax, Canada  900 nautical miles northeast of Hamilton, Bermuda  1,084 nautical miles northeast of New York City, USA 

Titanic Wreckage

Types of Deterioration & Pollution

Types of deterioration: Halomonas titanicae, also known as rusticles (bacteria eroding or eating the steel), microbes (microbial decomposer) for organic material, galvanic corrosion (chemically reducing the metals) 

Pollution: man-made trash has appeared at the wrecksite 

The Stern

The stern, or back section of the ship, rests approximately 2,000 feet south of the bow. Unlike the bow, which descended relatively intact, the stern experienced a violent plunge, spiraling to the ocean floor. The immense pressure and forceful intake of water flooding into the exposed structure caused incredible damage to the structure, leaving the stern mangled and greatly changed from its original form.  This breakup also scattered thousands of objects from the Ship’s interiors across the seabed, creating the vast debris field.

Debris Field

This 15 square mile area is known as the debris field. As Titanic descended and crashed into the ocean floor, thousands of objects spilled onto the seabed from the Ship’s interiors. This is where artifacts are carefully and respectfully recovered and documented. During research and mapping expeditions, deep sea scanning devices are used to “mow the lawn” and continuously capture images of the area row by row. Given the vast nature of the debris field, there can be large stretches of sand, rocks, and ocean life between Titanic remnants and artifacts.

Boilers

On September 1, 1985, one of Titanic’s boilers was found and marked the discovery of Ship’s previously unknown resting place. When Titanic split, it opened her Boiler Rooms No. 1 and 2 to the sea, and several of her 29 boilers can be seen scattered in the debris field. Their cast iron construction made them resistant to microbial corrosion, but their massive size and weight means recovery is unlikely.

Trash/pollution

Titanic’s wrecksite is often considered a reverent space, marking one of the greatest maritime disasters. However, it is not impervious to the modern world. With the rise of single-use products and plastics has come the abundance of man-made trash in the ocean, some of which has been found 12,500 feet below the surface at the wrecksite. 

Marine Line

Dozens of species of marine life have been found at the wrecksite, dismissing the previously held notion that the depth, pressure, temperature, salinity, oxygen-levels, and lack of light at the site would stop life from appearing. Underwater footage has revealed different species living on or near the two halves of the Ship and along the debris field. Exploring the site has led to a greater understanding of aquatic life found at this depth. 

The Bow

The bow is the front section of a ship. When Titanic sank, her bow allowed her to cut through the water and land in remarkable condition. From her anchors, forward mast, captain’s bridge, to the Grand Staircase, this half remains the most recognizable of her former glory. The keel and point of impact are now buried in sediment and silt of the ocean floor. While her forwardmost point is the strongest structurally, Titanic is not impervious to the harsh ocean conditions. During the 2024 expedition, it was revealed that a portion of her forward railing had fallen, forever changing this iconic view of the Ship. 

Plaques

Several of those who dive to the site will leave a plaque memorializing the tragedy, the expedition, and/or others who were lost. Most are found near the bow of the Ship. During the 2024 expedition, a plaque was laid out in the debris field to honor the legacy of P.H. Nargeolet, an explorer and expedition leader known fondly as “Mr. Titanic” having completed almost 40 dives to the wrecksite.   

Rusticles

Halomonas titanicae, commonly known as rusticles, are the icicle-like rust shapes that appear all over the Ship structure. This type of microbial bacteria is eating and breaking down the Ship’s iron, steadily deteriorating her metal construction. These have formed over the last century since her sinking and will eventually lead to the collapse and disappearance of Titanic.