ScubaVision Productions

• Interview with John Hanzi, Dive Safety Officer at the New England Aquarium and author of adventure novel Out of Hell's Kitchen
• Whiteface (The Anchor) at West Caicos
• The Driveway at West Caicos
• Boat Cove at West Caicos

Beyond the Blue is a British dive magazine with a decidedly technical focus. Shipped throughout Europe and even to the US (for about $58), the current issue of the magazine discusses rebreathers, rebreathers, and, um, rebreathers.

Even if you're not all that geeked up about rebreathers, you might still be interested in visiting Beyond the Blue's website. Divided into either wreck or cave, the site features lots of exciting trip reports (read about Guy Wallis' 8-days exploring the Karst Regin of the Czech Republic and Hungary), technique tips (where else are you gonna learn about Differential GPS and Proton Magnetometer?), and gear reviews (e.g., the C-Bear Tri-Glove). Quite simply, Beyond the Blue goes way beyond the ordinary dive magazine and explores the limits of our sport.

Over in Wetpixel's forums, a photo assistant for Scuba Diving Magazine posted an open call for entries for the magazine's upcoming "Wrecktacular" issue. Spotlighting wrecks from all over the world, the forum-post claims that, "If you have compelling wreck photos and are interested in submitting them for possible publication, please contact us." The editors will accept submissions via disc or e-mailed hyperlinks -- just be certain the images are clearly identified by destination and wreck name. Unfortunately, all submissions need to be recieved by Tuesday, January 16th. But don't worry: you've still got the weekend!

For contact information -- or to see the tentative list of wrecks the magazine will cover -- head over to Wetpixel. This could be your big break!

Spears has some amazingly crisp images of the landing vehicle on his website, including an interesting, and somewhat sad, before-and-after comparison of the damage.

Earlier this week, the crew of a Marlborough dive boat saved the life of an English tourist. While descending to New Zealand's Mikhail Lermontov wreck, the 49-year-old woman panicked, spit out her reg, and forced the group to abort the dive. Displaying no vital signs when pulled from the water, the crew immediately started CPR and administered oxygen to the woman, who quickly regained consciousness. Whew...close call.

It's a good thing the dive crew resuscitated the woman so handily, because rescue officials bungled dispatching a rescue helicopter, and it took nearly 45 minutes for the chopper to arrive. According to Dive Marlborough owner Brent McFadden, "It goes to show that CPR and having the right equipment work." Having trained staff on board helps, too, of course.

[Thanks, Disconnect!]

Calling for new laws to ensure wrecks are given the same respect as war cemeteries, Hannah Rickard, whose father survived the sinking of the Prince of Wales, claims, "It is obvious from some of the videos and photos circulating that the graves of these men are being disturbed... If it was British divers doing it, they would be prosecuted." However, Rickard admits that visiting the outside of the wrecks is not wrong, though the wrecks should be treated with the respect of a military cemetery: "to dive and just have a look at these wrecks I don't see as a problem. It's not ghoulish at all. We have battlefields that we go to in this country and the Tower of London where lots of people died."

Additionally, campaigners are comparing the taking of artifacts on the wrecks to grave robbing and are calling for a complete moratorium on that, as well. Admittedly, the loophole seems ridiculous and quite unfair.

[Via Diving News]

Lately, I'm determined to prove to the disbelievers that artificial reefs do, in fact, provide fish with important habitats and promote healthy ecosystems. If you're one of those disbelievers that I'm trying to convince, then check out this short clip of wreck diving on Florida's Duane and Bibb. There are fish everywhere!

If you're not one of those disbeleivers...then good for you -- and I hope you enjoy the video. Personally, I was especially intrigued with the footage of the Duane's conning tower.

Dr. Harry Wong is a recreational diver who wants to sink some of the Navy's decomissioned ships along California's coast. As president of that state's Ships 2 Reefs -- a group of scuba divers, scientists, and engineers whose goal is to sink "20 ships in 20 years" off the California coast -- he's already been offered a decommissioned Navy sub to sink, the USS Sailfish, as well as 2 derelict fishing trawlers. Other ships may be on the horizon. Now, he just has to raise enough funds (it costs roughly $2 million to acquire, clean, prepare, and sink a ship) and secure permission from local lawmakers (which runs in the neighborhood of 5 years).

Seeking help from some non-traditional sources (hoteliers, city governments, and local companies), Wong believes that the benefits to the environment (increased fish populations) and to the economy (increased tourist populations) will encourage people to help.

Oddly, some people (including Sonke Mastrup, the deputy director of California's Department of Fish and Game) don't agree that creating artificial reefs creates habitat for fish. According to Mastrup, "We don't see the ships as significant habitat (for fish) but we see the economic value of it. We're willing to see if we can't make this work on a statewide basis." I don't know how such a high level official could make such a bizarre-o statement, but the important thing is that the Department is onboard with the program, for whatever reason. Viva la wrecks, and a big shout-out to Wong and his group, who just got named Divester's Heroes of the Week!

Last month, we reported that divers had located a Japanese midget submarine off Sydney's beaches. Sunk in 1942, the tiny sub serves as a tomb for the two crewmen who died inside it. As a result of unspecified "technical difficulties" -- including astronomical cost; the fact that the sub is believed to contain live ammunition and could explode at any second; and that it has war grave status -- Australian authorities have decided to leave the sub on the ocean floor indefinitely. In order to protect the vessel, authorities have stepped up surveillance in the area, placing a 1500-foot protection zone around and over the wreck. Divers or boaters who breach the zone face penalties of up to 10,000 Australian dollars or five years jail.

Is your New Year's resolution to get smarter? Learn more:

• Department of the Navy's overview of Midget Subs
• David Kennedy's treatment of the midget sub attack on Sydney
• The Japan Times' interview with the brother of one of the crewmen

A few weeks ago, we caught wind that some of Truk's wrecks were leaking toxic chemicals. Facing the two-pronged attack of both time and dynamite fishers, there have been accusations that the wrecks have been leaching toxic chemicals and threatening the poor island's coastline. Is it true?

Well, the eloquent and observant Jack Connick just returned from Truk. Enjoying a glorious week of diving, which included 20 dives on some of the world's most famous wrecks, Jack noted that several of the old wrecks do, indeed, appear to be deteriorating (thanks, possibly, to overzealous divers?), but there's nary a mention of sludge seeping out of cracked fuselages. Despite some deterioration, however, Jack managed to squeeze in many fantastical wreck dives and squeeze off a number of killer photos.

If you're wondering whether a long-haul to Truk is worth your time and money, check out Jack's excellent three-part Truk trip report, in which he describes his experience aboard the Truk Odyssey; provides some photo and travel advice; and, of course, explains what the diving is like in the world's wreck capital.

On the night of May 31, 1942, three Japanese midget submarines launched from a fleet of five larger Japanese subs and raided Sydney Harbor. Prior to completing their mission, two of the subs were spotted and attacked in the Harbor, but one of the subs -- the M24, which attacked HMAS Kattabul, killing 21 sailors -- was never found. Some people believe the sub slipped out of the harbor after the attack. However, historians have long argued about whether it managed to make an escape.

Recently, divers exploring Sydney's northern beaches discovered a wreck -- complete with the the remains of two crewmen. The divers asked the head of the Royal Australian Navy's heritage collection, Commander Shane Moore, to verify it. According to Moore, "It can only be the M24." Reportedly sitting on its keel on the sand, the divers who discovered the wreck said they hoped the Japanese government would agree to raise it, as it's an important part of WWII history.

Truk Lagoon is arguably the world's premiere wreck diving location. Boasting dozens of wrecks (destroyers, transports, cargo, subs, tugs, carriers, tankers and other vessels) in her waters, the island's economy centers around these sunken ships. However, Micronesia's greatest asset may also be its greatest liability: massive oil leaks from the tankers, destroyers, and other WWII relics are threatening the island's coastline.

Local blast fishermen have illegally fished the area for decades, causing damage to the wrecks. Consequently, the wreck's disintegrating hulls are beginning to leak diesel fuel, oil, and other toxic chemicals. According to Joe Konno, former Director of the Truk Environmental Protection Agency, "If one of those ships happens to break loose in the lagoon or on the reef, you can imagine the damage it will cause from the loads of fuel being released."

Although Micronesia profits from the vessels through tourism revenue, maritime law dictates that Japan still owns the sunken ships and planes. Together, these two governments will have to come to a solution --and swiftly! -- otherwise these diver's dreams may mutate into environmentalist's nightmares.

[Via Newsvine; image courtesy skooba_diver]

This week, archaeologists officially announced the discovery of a shipwreck off Spain's Mediterranean coast. Dating to the first century, the unusually large wreck -- estimated to be 100 feet long with a capacity of roughly 400 tons -- is reported to have been carrying well-preserved, 3-foot-tall clay jars used for holding fish sauce, a prized condiment for wealthy Romans. Amazingly, within the jars, archaeologists have uncovered 2,000-year-old fish bones.

Resting in only 80 feet of water, the wreck was discovered by boaters in 2000. Unfortunately, news of the wreck quickly spread, and rogue divers absconded with many of the ship's amphorae, forcing the local government to install thick metal grates over the ship to protect it. What remains of the ship lies almost entirely buried in mud. Experts believe the remaining cargo to be not nearly as exciting as 2000-year-old fish bones. Instead, they expect to find lead and copper, used for plumbing and jewelry, respectively. No word yet on whether the Romans used tartar sauce.