Paul-Henry Nargeolet aka ‘Mr. Titanic‘ is a French diver, researcher, and entrepreneur who is best known for his exploration of the Titanic wreck site. He has led or participated in more than 30 expeditions to the sunken ship since 1987 and has recovered over 5,000 artifacts from the ocean floor. He is also the co-author of the book Titanic: The Last Great Images, which features stunning photographs and stories from his dives.
Biography: Early Life and Education
Paul-Henry Nargeolet was born in 1946 in Chamonix, France, a town famous for its skiing and mountaineering. As of 2023, his age is 77 years old (as of 2023). He developed a passion for the sea and diving at a young age and joined the French Navy as a diver in 1964. He served in various naval units and missions, including the nuclear submarine fleet and the underwater demolition team. He also trained as a helicopter pilot and a parachutist.

He left the Navy in 1983 and joined IFREMER, the French Institute for Research and Exploration of the Sea, as a project manager. He was involved in several underwater projects, such as the discovery of the Bismarck wreck in 1989 and the exploration of hydrothermal vents in the Atlantic Ocean.
Paul-Henry Nargeolet BIO/WIKI
Name | Paul-Henry Nargeolet |
Birthday | 1946 |
Age | 77 years old (as of 2023) |
Birthplace | Chamonix, France |
Lives In | Kent, Connecticut, United States |
Profession | Diver, Researcher, and Entrepreneur |
Height | 5 feet 9 inches (approx.) |
Weight | Kilograms: 75 kg |
Hair Color | White |
Eyes Color | Dark Brown |
Wife | Michelle Marsh (deceased in 2017) |
Children | His children live in Cork, Ireland |
Net Worth | USD 1.5 billion (approx.) |
Homepage | Dreshare.com |
Nationality | French-American |
Religion | Christian |
Education | Graduate |
Alma Mater | Information not provided |
Ethnicity | Mixed |
Parents | Dad: Mr. Nargeolet Mom: Mrs. Nargeolet |
Siblings | Will Update |
Missing on OceanGate Submarine
- Paul-Henry Nargeolet is a former French navy diver and a renowned explorer of the Titanic wreck. He has visited the ship at least 35 times and wrote a book called “In the Depths of the Titanic” in 2022.
- He was one of the five crew members on board the Titan submersible, operated by OceanGate Expeditions, that went missing on 18 June 2023 while diving into the Titanic site. The other crew members were British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood; British billionaire Hamish Harding; and Stockton Rush, founder, and CEO of OceanGate.
- Nargeolet made a chilling remark in 2019 about the dangers of deep diving, saying: “When you’re in very deep water, you’re dead before you realize that something is happening, so it’s just not a problem.” He also admitted that he sometimes pushed the limits of the sub’s batteries and resurfaced time.

- Communication was lost with the submersible one hour and 45 minutes into its dive at the wreck site, and authorities were notified when it did not resurface at its scheduled time later that day. The craft’s four-day breathable air supply was expected to be exhausted on the morning of 22 June 2023. A search and rescue operation was launched by the Canadian Coast Guard and other agencies, but no sign of the sub or its crew was found.
- Nargeolet and Rush had been on another failed mission to visit the Titanic wreck in 2022, which was aborted due to technical issues with the submersible.
Titanic Expeditions
In 1987, Nargeolet joined RMS Titanic Inc., the company that owns the salvage rights to the Titanic wreck site, as the director of underwater research. He led the first expedition to recover artifacts from the ship using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) called Robin. Since then, he has been on more than 30 dives to the Titanic, using various submersibles and ROVs, such as Nautile, Mir, Alvin, and Titan.

Paul-Henry Nargeolet has witnessed the deterioration of the Titanic over the years and has documented its changes with photographs and videos. He has also recovered thousands of items from the wreck, ranging from personal belongings of passengers and crew to parts of the ship’s structure and machinery. Some of these artifacts are displayed in museums and exhibitions around the world, while others are stored in a conservation facility in Atlanta, Georgia.

Paul-Henry Nargeolet has also contributed to the scientific and historical knowledge of the Titanic by conducting surveys, mapping, and research on the wreck site. He has collaborated with other experts and institutions, such as National Geographic, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, James Cameron, Robert Ballard, and Clive Cussler. He has also appeared in several documentaries and films about the Titanic, such as Ghosts of the Abyss (2003), Titanic: The Final Word with James Cameron (2012), and Titanic: 20 Years Later with James Cameron (2017).
Career
- Director of Underwater Research Program, Premier Exhibitions, RMS Titanic, Inc (Apr 2007 – Present):
- Paul-Henry Nargeolet has been serving as the Director of the Underwater Research Program for Premier Exhibitions, RMS Titanic, Inc.
- This role involves overseeing and managing the underwater research activities related to the exploration and study of the RMS Titanic wreck.
- Director, CMU (2015 – 2016):
- During this period, Paul-Henry Nargeolet held the position of Director at CMU (exact details about CMU are not provided).
- His responsibilities in this role are not specified.
- Self-employed Consultant (Jan 2004 – Mar 2007):
- Paul Henry Nargeolet worked as a self-employed consultant during this period.
- The specific areas or industries he provided consultancy services in are not mentioned.

- Executive Director, Aqua+, a subsidiary of Canal+ (Jan 1996 – Dec 2003):
- From 1996 to 2003, Paul-Henry Nargeolet served as the Executive Director of Aqua+, a subsidiary of Canal+.
- The exact nature of Aqua+ and his specific responsibilities in this role are not provided.
- Director DESM, Deep Diving Equipment, IFREMER (Apr 1986 – Jan 1996):
- Paul-Henry Nargeolet worked as the Director of DESM (exact details about DESM are not provided), which is related to deep diving equipment.
- This position was held at IFREMER, a French oceanographic institute.
- He was responsible for overseeing the activities related to deep diving equipment and its development.

- Commander, Sub Pilot, EOD, Ship Captain, Clearance Diver, Deep Diver, Marine Nationale, French Navy (Sep 1964 – Apr 1986):
- Paul-Henry Nargeolet had a distinguished career in the French Navy, specifically the Marine Nationale, spanning over 21 years.
- He served in various roles, including Commander, Sub Pilot, EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) specialist, Ship Captain, Clearance Diver, and Deep Diver.
- His assignments took him to locations such as Brest, Paris, Cherbourg, Noumea, Toulon, and Djibouti.
Book by Paul-Henry Nargeolet
- Paul-Henry Nargeolet is the author of “In the Depths of the Titanic”, a book that was published in France in 2022 by HarperCollins. The book is based on his extensive experience as a diver and explorer of the Titanic wreck, which he has visited more than 35 times since 1987.
- The book recounts his personal and professional journey to the Titanic, from his first dive as part of the French Navy team that discovered the ship, to his later expeditions as the director of underwater research for RMS Titanic, Inc., the company that owns the salvage rights to the wreck and displays many of the artifacts at Titanic exhibitions.

- The book also reveals some of the secrets and mysteries of the Titanic, such as the fate of its passengers and crew, the condition and deterioration of the ship, and the legal and ethical issues surrounding its preservation and exploration. The book is illustrated with many photographs and diagrams from Mr. Nargeolet’s diver.
- The book is a testimony of Mr. Nargeolet’s passion and respect for the Titanic, which he considers a “monument to human history”. He writes: “The Titanic is not just a shipwreck. It is a place where time has stopped, where history has been frozen, where emotions are still palpable.”
Paul-Henry Nargeolet’s Wife, Kids & Marriage
Paul-Henry Nargeolet lives in Kent, Connecticut, United States. He was married to Michelle Marsh, an American journalist, and author who wrote several books about their Titanic adventures. She died in 2017 after a long battle with cancer. They have two children who live in Cork, Ireland.

Net Worth
Paul-Henry Nargeolet is estimated to have a net worth of $1.5 billion (approx.), which he earned from his diving career and his involvement in RMS Titanic Inc. He is also the founder and president of Titan Sub Inc., a company that designs and operates submersibles for deep-sea exploration.
Social Media Accounts
Paul-Henry Nargeolet is active on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. He often shares photos and videos from his dives and travels with his followers. You can follow him on these links:
Facebook: @paulhenri.nargeolet.9
Twitter: @nargeoletph
Instagram: @paulhenrynargeolet
Facts about Paul-Henry Nargeolet
- He is nicknamed Mr. Titanic because of his extensive experience and knowledge of the shipwreck.
- Nargeolet holds several world records for diving to extreme depths, such as 6,000 meters (19,685 feet) in Nautile and 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) in Titan.

- He has a collection of over 10,000 books about the Titanic and other maritime topics.
- He is fluent in French, English, Spanish, and Russian.
- Paul is an avid skier and climber and has scaled several peaks in the Alps.
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