David Lochridge

David Lochridge is a leading undersea explorer and career submersible pilot whose professional life has been spent operating in environments where risk is constant and failure is unforgiving. With a background spanning the Royal Navy, submarine rescue and deep-sea expedition operations, he is recognised globally for his expertise in manned submersible missions and his uncompromising commitment to safety. His work has placed him at the forefront of some of the world’s most technically demanding underwater operations, as well as in the global spotlight following his role in raising safety concerns within the deep-sea exploration industry.

David began his career in the Royal Navy before moving into commercial offshore diving and advanced subsea operations. He later qualified as a Submarine Rescue Pilot, a role reserved for the most experienced professionals, responsible for operating last-resort rescue systems designed to recover trapped submariners when conventional options no longer exist. This work demands absolute trust in procedures, equipment and team discipline, and carries the ultimate responsibility for human life. David continues to support submarine rescue capability as a way of giving back to the submariner community and maintaining the highest operational standards.

From 2002 onwards, David built a distinguished career as a manned submersible pilot, progressing to senior roles including Chief Submersible Pilot aboard the M/Y Octopus and pilot with James Fisher Rumic. He went on to lead and operate submersible teams from expedition vessels and superyachts across the globe, supporting scientific research, undersea exploration, deep-sea discovery and complex inspection missions. His expertise has made him a regular contributor to documentary and television productions, including How Do They Do It, Inside the Red Sea Mission, OceanXplorers and Deep Ocean, where he appears as an on-screen expedition and submersible expert.

David later served as Director of Marine Operations at OceanGate, with responsibility for submersible safety and operational oversight, before working as an Expedition Pilot with OceanX. He is currently a Sub Team Leader with InkFish, operating advanced submersibles on high-profile deep-sea expeditions. Widely known for sharing documented safety concerns prior to the Titan submersible disaster, he has since appeared in major international media, including Netflix’s Titan: The OceanGate Disaster and BBC News, where he has been described as the ‘Titan whistleblower’. In his speaking and media work, David focuses on safety culture, leadership under pressure, human factors and why complex systems fail long before a visible crisis occurs, offering powerful lessons that resonate far beyond the world beneath the ocean’s surface.