The Wreck Diving Blog

From the Divemaster News:

“The wreck is located in the Gaspar Strait, near Belitung Island, off the south-east coast of Sumatra.

Since time immemorial, the funnel-shaped passage linking the Java Sea and the Indian Ocean has been one of the two main shipping routes. The Malacca Straits is the other, from China to the West.

A British sea captain, shipwrecked here in 1817, called it “the most dangerous area between China and London”.

Ten years ago, at a spot known locally as “Black Rock”, two men diving for sea cucumbers came across a large pile of sand and coral….

Digging a hole, they reached in and pulled out a barnacle-encrusted bowl. Then another. And another.

They had stumbled on the oldest, most important, marine archaeological discovery ever made in South East Asia, an Arab dhow - or ship - built of teak, coconut wood and hibiscus fibre, packed with a treasure that Indiana Jones could only dream of….”  Click Here To Read the Entire Article

Technorati Tags: china, shipwreck, sumatra, treasure, wreck diving

This is part one of the video footage shot while diving on the SS President Coolidge in Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu as a part of a club trip. Part 2  follows…

Duration : 0:9:45

Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: coolidge, diving, president, santo, scuba, shipwreck, unde, Vanuatu

This is the second part of the Coolidge video.

Duration : 0:9:55

Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: coolidge, deep, diving, president, scuba, shipwreck, SS

I was reading an article written by a wreck diving enthusiast (one of many out there!) describing his experience on a dive in great detail. I found myself really being drawn into this particular story though. The writing was dramatic and his detailed description of what he was experiencing was familiar, but it was fascinating.

I’ve only dived on a few wrecks, in very clear water, with friends who were watching out for me. I plan to do it again soon and maybe venture out into “deeper” water. But in the meantime, I love to read other people’s descriptions of their wreck dives.

“I’m floating inside a sunken ocean liner. It’s darker than the inside of a cow. My small dive light barely makes a dent in the darkness. The last time I could see my depth gauge, it read 48 metres, which is a bit troublesome since the waterproof case on my digital camera is only guaranteed to 37.5 metres. My dive computer is beeping, signaling that I’ve exceeded my depth time and I’m now into decompression mode and I’ve never done a decompression dive before.” That was written by Jeffrey Groberman of The Province.

He’s describing a dive on the SS Coolidge, lying intact a few hundred meters off shore of Vanuatu. Apparently, it’s the only intact ocean liner wreck located.

He also makes reference to his Bucket List. That’s the list of things you want to do before you kick the bucket. I may have to add this dive to my list…

Technorati Tags: ss coolidge, Vanuatu, wreck diving

While searching for fun information on wreck diving, I ran across these pages:

• Wreck Diving in Kingston, Ontario - The diving around Kingston Ontario, and along the St. Lawrence seaway has more than a dozen documented wrecks in good condition, just waiting for you to …

• Reef Diving- Enter Another World - If you are interested in wreck diving, it is imperative that you hire a guide to take … Be the first to submit a blurb! Related topics: Reef Diving- Enter …

• Wreck Diving in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah - However, by popular demand, we’ve decided to include the wreck diving enthusiasts among you, as well as people staying in Kota Kinabalu (KK) who want to venture further afield than the nearby Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park (TARP). …

• Diving From Khao Lak, Thailand - And take a maximum of 8 with 2 guides. This is a great addition to any visit to the region. These are also great opportunities to enhance your training with specialties like Wreck Diving and Photography! Ask us how …

• Wreck Diving Class Dive Report - August 23rd 2008. Last Saturday the Tuna Seazure was host to several new divers out for their first ocean dive along with a few veterans and regulars. I love seeing the smile on the face of a new diver when they get back from their …

• TEC Expedition Report; South China Sea Liveaboard - HMS Repulse … - We’ve just returned to Koh Tao from a spectacular TEC liveaboard, visiting WW2 wrecks in the South China Sea. We laid commemorative wreaths on the HMS Repulse and Dutch Submarine KXVII, plus dived two shallow wrecks off Tioman Island, …

Technorati Tags: reef diving, wreck diving

Wreck divers rejoice! One of the things I love about this sport is the never-ending thrill of discovery. I doubt that we’ll ever run out of wrecks to dive on…and dive on, and dive on.

I read an article today on the Divemaster blog abut 7 new wrecks discovered in the Thames. Seems they were clearing the river bottom to allow for deeper draft vessels to navigate the river safely and there they were.

One of the wrecks discovered was the HMS London, a 90-cannon warship. The wreck of the HMS London is so significant that the Port of London Authority is moving the shipping channel to avoid disturbing it.

Perhaps we should have the new Olympic sport be Wreck Diving for the 2012 London Olympics?

Technorati Tags: HMS London, shipwreck, wreck diving

“No one knows its name. And they’re not sure when it sunk or even why. But 30 miles off Marco Island in 80 feet of water are the remains of a steam-powered paddle ship that sank many years ago. Geoff Fahringer, an historical society member and an instructor for the Public Safety Diving Association, said the mystery vessel was discovered in the mid-1990s.” So it was reported on Marco Island Florida.com.

With all the hurricanes and tsunamis the world has been experiencing lately, you never know what the ocean floor will reveal the next time you scuba dive. For wreck diving, it’s an exciting time! Be safe out there…

(Read the full article on this 100 year old, steam-powered paddle ship)

Technorati Tags: scuba, wreck diving

By now all divers have heard the news - a Houston man has become the 15th diver to die exploring the wreck of the ocean liner Andrea Doria since its sinking July 25, 1956. Terry DeWolf, 38, had extensive dive certifications and was quite experienced. So what were the factors causing this accident?

The Andrea Doria is a particularly dangerous wreck because it’s just so deep. The wreck lies on its side, so the walls are now the floors and the floors are now the walls, and it’s very confusing. It’s a very dangerous labyrinth.

What is it about wreck diving that attracts us? Is it the danger, the adventure, or the romance of treasure hunting? Whatever the reason, wreck divers are a passionate lot.

God Bless You Terry…

(Read the whole story here)

Technorati Tags: andrea doria, diving, wreck