Billionaire Larry Connor plans to descend to the Titanic wreck in a submarine

(Patria) - Billionaire Larry Connor plans to take a two-person submarine to the Titanic wreck.

His goal is to prove that the industry is safe again, after five people died in June last year when the Titan submersible, built by OceanGate, suffered a catastrophic implosion during a voyage to the Titanic.

- I want to show people around the world that, while the ocean is extremely powerful, it can be beautiful and enjoyable and truly life-changing if you do it the right way - Connor, a real estate investor from Ohio, told The Wall Street Journal.

He has teamed up with Patrick Lahey, one of the world's most experienced submersible operators and co-founder and CEO of Triton Submarines, Sky News reports.

- Patrick has been thinking about this and preparing the design for over a decade. But we didn't have the materials and technology. We couldn't build this submarine five years ago - Connor explained.

The two are set to embark on the journey in the Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer, worth 20 million dollars.

The number 4000 refers to the depth in metres it is said to be able to dive to, which is about 200 metres deeper than the depth at which the Titanic wreck lies.

Lahey recounted how Connor called him just a few days after the deadly implosion of the Titan.

- He called me and said: 'You know, what we need to do is build a submarine that can safely dive to the Titanic and show the world how it's possible' - Lahey said.

He confirmed that he was a close friend of Paul-Henri Nargeolet, one of the Titan passengers and a deep-sea explorer.

- It still baffles me beyond words that Paul-Henri was involved - Lahey added.