Diving Into Disaster: The Epic Fail to Raise a Historic Ghost Ship | WELT Full Documentary

WELT Full Documentary: Diving Into Disaster: The Epic Fail to Raise a Historic Ghost Ship

Beneath its serene surface, Lake Constance is a picturesque vacation paradise. But deep below, shipwrecks, airplanes, and sunken treasures lie in waiting. Now, a team of inventors and adventurers is setting out to unlock one of the lake’s long-held secrets. Led by Swiss explorer Silvan Paganini, they aim to raise the steamship Säntis from more than 200 meters below—using a salvage technique they developed themselves.
This documentary dives into the mysterious depths of the lake. A visit to the wreck of the Jura reveals the story of a tragic disaster. In the mid-20th century, the search for downed bombers turned into a race for valuable wrecks. Could a new salvage boom be on the horizon? Will the adventurers succeed in bringing the Säntis back to the surface? One thing is certain—Lake Constance does not give up its secrets easily.

00:00 Intro

01:20 Shipwrecks and Steamboats Beneath Lake Constance
Lake Constance hides forgotten shipwrecks and historic steamers deep below its surface. Among them is the Säntis, a 19th-century paddle steamer rediscovered after a century beneath the waves.

05:02 High-Stakes Salvage Operation
Silvan Paganini and his team devised an ambitious plan to raise the Säntis using custom-built diving robots, water pressure, and air balloons—technology never before used at such depths.

23:15 WWII Relics and Forbidden Wrecks
Lake Constance also holds WWII aircraft and ships like the Ura, now protected and untouched. Stories of treasure hunters, forgotten planes, and historical mishaps continue to draw adventurers.

40:30 Disaster at 220 Meters
At 220 meters, the recovery platform imploded due to brake failure. Despite the setback, the team salvaged wreckage and continues to push forward with new funding and improved plans.

48:41 A Never-Ending Mystery
From Roman ship fantasies to torpedo test sites, the lake remains Europe's largest sunken treasure trove—its secrets slowly surfacing.

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