It’s been a year since the world held its collective breath waiting for news about the fate of the Titan.

The tiny ocean submersible, with five people onboard, lost contact with its support ship the Polar Prince while descending to the bottom of the ocean on an expedition to the Titanic wreck site.

It was a story that captivated people around the world, amid speculation about the amount of oxygen available, but within days it became clear that the Titan and its passengers were lost in a “catastrophic implosion” just hours after dipping below the surface.

Larry Daley, who has long been involved in adventure tourism in the province, is remembering the occasion with great sadness. Respected French subsea navigator Paul-Henri Nargeolet was among those lost. Daley was one of the many people who Nargeolet had gotten to know through his frequent visits to the province.

“I think about my good friend,” says Daley, who was lost “along with four other adventurers. So it is heart-wrenching to think about it for sure.”

Daley acknowledges the tragedy was a setback for subsea exploration, but he says it does not reflect the work being done in the deep submersible diving community.

“That operation, obviously was an unsafe operation based on what happened, as well as the warnings that that company was given over the years.” Daley says what happened is “not a refection of deep submersible diving, by no means.”