A DIVER who explored the sunken wreck of Titanic's sister ship with space age technology will be speaking in Dunfermline.

It's just over 100 years since the Britannic sank after an underwater mine exploded and Andy Torbet has plumbed the depths to see what secrets she holds.

And he'll give a talk about it on Wednesday, February 8 for the Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s Inspiring People series, starting at 7.30pm in Dunfermline High School.

The tale is set to enthral divers, adventure enthusiasts and history buffs alike.

The Britannic, the Titanic’s younger, bigger, more luxurious and stronger sister ship, was also made in Belfast and, just like the famous White Star liner, met her end on the ocean floor.

But it was a mine rather than an iceberg that caused the damage, the explosion off the Greek island of Kea in November 1916 causing her to sink with the loss of 30 lives. More than 1,000 people were rescued. 

It was the largest ship lost in the First World War and lies 400 feet below the surface of the Aegean Sea. 

The wreck is off limits to all but the most accomplished of divers. 

Using breathing gas mixtures of helium, nitrogen and oxygen through a closed circuit rebreather – similar to the systems used by astronauts on space walks – Andy and the dive team went beneath the waves to film this maritime titan.

In this talk he will not only reveal the secrets of why Britannic sank but will look at some of the characters whose stories are linked to the ship. 

Andy will also look at the technology, physics and physiology required to dive to a depth where the pressure is 13 times that on the surface, breathing air would be fatal and 30 minutes spent on the wreck means six long hours to the surface decompressing – without which your blood and tissues would fizz up like a shaken coke bottle.

The talk will be accompanied by images and footage from his experience with the Britannic, which featured in a BBC documentary in November.

Inspiring People talks are open to all. Tickets are free for students, under-18s and RSGS members, £8 for Tiso Outdoor Experience cardholders and £10 for visitors. For more information, go to rsgs.org