Certified scuba diver and YouTuber Jake Koehler had an emotional moment during an interview with People, revealing he was almost a member of the deadly OceanGate submarine voyage.
Two years ago, OceanGate’s Titan submarine imploded in the North Atlantic Ocean near Newfoundland, Canada during an excursion to the famous underwater wreckage of the Titanic.
All five people aboard died in the implosion, which resulted due to intense pressure placed on the submarine’s carbon fiber hull. Unable to bear the pressure at such depths, the sub was crushed. Presumed human remains from the victims were recovered later in June and October 2023.
Jake Koehler, best known by his online tag ‘Scuba Jake,’ opened up about his experience further in a June 2025 interview with People, saying that he’d set foot on the Titan mere days before the implosion.
OceanGate has since stopped its operations following the disaster.
YouTuber admits he was nearly on deadly OceanGate voyage
During his time on the submarine, 33 feet below sea level, a heavy fog began to roll in, forcing him and the rest of the crew to go back on deck.
“We’re about to go off of a platform, and the fog just didn’t lift, and they canceled it,” he told People. “So, who knows, maybe the fog saved my life.”
There were some red flags that Koehler noticed about the submarine, as well, saying that a piece of plastic on the side of the Titan looked damaged.
“It looked like it had some aesthetic damage, is what I believe they told me,” he explained. “It looked like a little plastic or piece on the side, it looked like it was broke, maybe from the waves or something.
“Who am I to question these people? You know, it’d be like me questioning, you know, Elon Musk.”
Jake was also featured in a documentary named Titan: The OceanGate Submersible Disaster on Netflix, where he recounted his time aboard the vessel before it set out on its disastrous journey.
“I’m just thinking like, ‘Damn, you know, what if that was me?’ ” he said, shedding tears. “It was a bit … tough.
“Obviously, anyone wishes they could go back in time and maybe say, ‘Hey, don’t do this,’ …but, you know, that’s the name of the game when you’re pushing the limits.”
Jake wasn’t the only YouTuber who nearly took part in the Titan’s deadly mission. YouTube icon MrBeast also revealed that he nearly took part in the voyage, saying he was invited to join earlier that month.
“Kind of scary that I could have been on it,” he penned in a viral tweet.
Content shared from www.dexerto.com.