The Deep End

On June 18 2023, the world held its breath as news broke of the Titan submersible's implosion, killing all five passengers as they descended to view the Titanic shipwreck. How could this happen? And who is to blame?

A tightly coiled drama set against a vivid world that few have had a chance to experience, The Deep End weaves together heart-stopping storytelling, rigorous research and exclusive interviews with engineers, consultants and insiders to illuminate the high-stakes world of deep-sea exploration, and the broader implications for controlling the ocean's depths. This is a tale of innovation and risks, of unlikely success and deadly failures, all part of a race to control the riches of the Earth's oceans.

The book also tells the human story behind the five people who tragically lost their lives on the Titan. Through interviews with friends, family and colleagues, Mark Harris brings their untold stories to life - from the passionate Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet to teenager Suleman Dawood, who overcame his fear of the submersible through his ambition to become the first person to solve a Rubix cube on the ocean floor.

Finally, there is the lingering question of why the submersible exploded, and who is to blame. The Deep End is the first book to hunt for the real reason the Titan failed, why it matters, and what it means for humanity's future. This is a high-tech detective story about the limits of innovation, the dangers of big tech's 'move fast, break things' mentality, and the hunger to conquer our planet's last great frontier.