He now claims that “spiteful” rules put in place by the Irish government prevent him from recovering any artefacts from the wreckage.
"The Government officials are so glib and innocent sounding like they walk on water, but they add all these restrictions on and throw them at me so they interfere and impede," Bemis said.
"The people of Ireland are being deprived of an opportunity to share in a very historic event and to share in the income to be derived from this - a substantial tourist attraction could be developed that will go on for years."
One of the conditions imposed by the government which, he claims, halt his lifelong expedition to recover treasures from the wreckage, includes an order that Bemis indemnifies the Irish government of any incidents of injuries sustained if a dive to Lusitania is organized.
Bemis also claims that diving on the site could leave him open to claims from descendants of the dead for the desecration of graves
A statement from Irish government officials said, "The conditions attached to Mr. Bemis' licence are no more onerous than is absolutely necessary to protect a wreck of this global significance.
"It is also the final resting place of over 1,000 individuals who lost their lives during the tragic event of May 1915 and therefore deserves due respect as the grave site of those unfortunate passengers."
For decades, Bemis’ mission involved confirming a theory that the sinking was hastened by a second explosion caused by a secret cache of munitions destined for Britain's war effort. The RMS Lusitania sank in a remarkable 18 minutes compared to the two hours and forty minutes it took for the Titanic to sink.
"I'm trying to find out what caused the second explosion properly,” Bemis said.
"It's my property. I bought it. I invested in it. Is it wrong for me to want to recover it?
"I don't think that's being arrogant, I think that's being responsible."