A Fragile Tourist Attraction on the Ocean Floor - New York Times

Published: April 9, 2012 - By WILLIAM J. BROAD - New York Times

Explorers and United States government experts have put together the first comprehensive map of the Titanic’s resting place, illuminating a square mile of inky seabed as a guide to better understanding the liner’s death throes and better preserving its remains.

Already, knowing the exact positions of thousands of parts, structures and artifacts has allowed the government and the International Maritime Organization to draw up recommendations for the operation of the mini-submarines that ferry tourists more than two miles down to the bottom of the North Atlantic for a glimpse of the great ship.

“People have the right to see, explore and learn,” said James P. Delgado, director of maritime heritage at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which monitors the wreck. “But you want to put down guidelines like those at Gettysburg and the Acropolis, so visitors can experience it in the same way.

Complete post at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/10/science/seeking-guidelines-to-protect-fragile-titanic-from-visitors.html?_r=1