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Richie Kohler

Technical Wreck Diver, Shipwreck Historian, Explorer & Filmmaker

Richie Kohler approaches a shipwreck as a place where engineering, evidence and human memory meet. The dives may require advanced rebreathers and complex operations, but the lasting result is the identity of a lost vessel, a corrected history or an answer returned to the people connected with it.

Career

A founding member of Atlantic Wreck Divers whose work on U-869, Andrea Doria, Titanic, Britannic and other wrecks developed into an international career in exploration, research, teaching and film.

Signature Contributions

  • Helped identify the unknown submarine off New Jersey as U-869 after a six-year investigation.
  • Led or joined major expeditions to Andrea Doria, Titanic, Britannic and historically significant military wrecks.
  • Connected wreck evidence with survivors, families, museums and public audiences through research and documentary work.
  • Trained technical divers and presented widely on expedition practice, rebreathers and safety.

Timeline

  1. 1985 · First Andrea Doria dive

    Began a long relationship with the wreck that became foundational to his technical-diving and historical work.

  2. 1991–1997 · U-869 investigation

    Worked with John Chatterton and the wider team to establish the identity of the unknown German submarine off New Jersey.

  3. 1999 · English Channel U-boat expedition

    Served as U.S. leader of a British-American team locating and identifying First and Second World War submarines.

  4. 2002–2004 · USS Murphy and U-215

    Helped identify two significant military wrecks in the western North Atlantic.

  5. 2003–2006 · Deep Sea Detectives

    Co-hosted and produced 56 episodes examining underwater mysteries around the world.

  6. 2005–2006 · Titanic and Britannic

    Led major television and technical-diving expeditions to the Olympic-class ships.

  7. 2007 · USS Lagarto documentation

    Documented the lost American submarine for the Wisconsin Maritime Museum and PBS.

  8. 2014 · E/V Nautilus

    Worked with Robert Ballard documenting Gulf of Mexico wrecks including U-166.

  9. 2015–2022 · Britannic expedition leadership

    Served in expedition-leadership and diving-safety roles on repeated projects at HMHS Britannic.

Media Work

Co-host and producer of 56 episodes of Deep Sea Detectives; host of Dark Waters with Richie Kohler; contributor to NOVA, National Geographic, BBC and other productions.

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