Deep-Sea Submersible Finds Shackleton’s Quest Shipwreck After 64 Years

A joint expedition by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) has located and photographed the wreck of the Quest, the last ship commanded by Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton. The discovery, made at a depth of 390 meters in the Labrador Sea off the coast of Canada, relied on two deep-sea vehicles: the manned submersible Alvin and the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Falcon.

The Quest was a 34-meter steam-powered vessel that Shackleton used for the Shackleton–Rowett Expedition of 1921–1922. Shackleton died of a heart attack aboard the ship in South Georgia in January 1922, cementing the Quest’s place in polar exploration history. After decades of service in seal hunting and Arctic expeditions, the ship was crushed by an ice floe and sank on May 5, 1962, in the Atlantic Ocean.

A two-year search effort

The RCGS-led team first detected the wreck in 2024 using side-scan sonar. That survey confirmed the location but could not provide visual details. The 2026 expedition, using the Alvin and Falcon, was the first to directly observe the wreck and capture high-resolution video and still images.

“The sonar gave us a ghostly outline, but we needed to see it with our own eyes,” said John Geiger, the expedition leader. “The Alvin and Falcon allowed us to do that.”

The Alvin, a deep-sea submersible capable of carrying up to three people to depths of 4,500 meters, was deployed from the research vessel. The Falcon ROV, a tethered robot, was used to maneuver around the wreckage and inspect areas too dangerous for the manned submersible.

Wreck condition and unexpected ecology

The images reveal that the Quest is in poorer condition than the sonar suggested. The stern and starboard side are covered in fishing nets and debris. The bridge area, where the ship’s name once appeared, has collapsed. However, the wreck has become a thriving artificial reef, hosting corals, cod, redfish, and wolf fish.

“The different materials in the ship have created microhabitats,” said Antoine Normandin, the mission’s lead scientist. “We are seeing layered biodiversity around the wreck that is becoming a scientific experiment in marine colonization.”

The RCGS and WHOI plan to release a full report later this year, including a 3D photogrammetric model of the site.

Technology at the core of the discovery

The success of the mission highlights the role of advanced underwater robotics in historical archaeology. The combination of a manned submersible (Alvin) and a remotely operated vehicle (Falcon) allowed the team to both observe from a safe distance and perform close-up inspection. The Falcon ROV was able to clear some debris to reveal structural details, while Alvin provided the human perspective needed to interpret the wreck’s context.

The expedition also tested new navigation and imaging systems that could be used for future deep-sea searches. The team used a combination of sonar data, GPS coordinates from historical records, and computer modeling to narrow the search area.

What remains unclear

The exact cause of the sinking is not in doubt – the ship was crushed by ice – but the extent of structural damage from fishing nets versus natural decay is still being analyzed. The RCGS has not yet confirmed whether any artifacts from Shackleton’s time remain intact. The ship was modified several times after his death, and the original cabin where Shackleton died is likely destroyed.

Also unclear is whether the site will be designated a protected heritage area. The Canadian government has not yet commented on the discovery.

Source: Original report by Carlos Prego at Xataka, published July 29, 2026. Additional details from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution press releases.

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