Here is a concise summary of the provided text:
**Title:** A Journey to the Titanic Wreck
**Key Points:**
* David Pogue joins an exclusive expedition to the Titanic wreck, organized by Ocean Gate, a company offering dives to the site for $250,000 per person.
* The expedition uses a custom-built, 5-person submersible (the "Titan") capable of reaching the wreck's depth (2.4 miles below sea).
* Initial dives are canceled due to rough seas and a mechanical issue, but the expedition eventually succeeds on its third attempt.
* Passengers, including "Titanic enthusiasts" (e.g., Renata Rojas, who waited 30 years for this experience), fund legitimate scientific research conducted during the expedition.
* Despite the high ticket price, Ocean Gate's CEO, Stockton Rush, reveals the company is not yet profitable, citing over $1 million in gas costs alone.
* The successful dive allows participants to witness the Titanic's wreck up close, with the expedition ensuring no disturbance or artifact retrieval.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text, numbered and in short sentences:
1. **Location**: The expedition departed from St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, about 400 miles from the Titanic wreck site.
2. **Destination**: The destination was the wreck of the Titanic, 2.4 miles below the sea.
3. **Submersible**: The submersible used was called the Titan, a custom-built, 5-inch thick carbon fiber vessel with titanium domes.
4. **Capacity**: The Titan is the only five-person sub in the world that can reach Titanic depths.
5. **Unique Feature**: The Titan is also the only submersible with a toilet at such depths.
6. **Cost**: The cost per person for the dive is $250,000.
7. **Typical Clients**: Clients include "Titaniacs" (Titanic enthusiasts), individuals who have mortgaged their homes for the trip, and those who can afford it without hesitation.
8. **Expedition Duration**: The entire expedition, from departure to return, took around 8 days.
9. **Initial Dive Failure**: The first dive attempt failed due to floats coming off the platform at just 37 feet below the surface.
10. **Weather Delay**: The expedition was delayed by two days due to rough seas.
11. **Alternate Dive**: A consolation dive to the continental shelf, 80 miles away, was offered during the wait.
12. **Second Dive Failure**: The second attempt to reach the Titanic wreck failed due to a communication breakdown, resulting in the sub being lost for 2.5 hours.
13. **Offer to Passengers**: Stockton Rush offered passengers a free do-over for the following year.
14. **Financials**: Ocean Gate is not currently making a profit from these operations, with costs exceeding $1 million for gas alone.
15. **Scientific Contribution**: Passengers' funds support real scientific research conducted during the expedition by deep-sea biologists and ocean archaeologists.
16. **Success on Third Attempt**: The Titanic wreck was finally reached on the third attempt, with passengers successfully observing the site.
17. **Tourism Controversy**: Despite detractors, these expeditions do not disturb the wreck or retrieve artifacts, contributing to historical preservation.