The Sea Chart 1 shipwreck get’s explored by technical divers for the first time

Khao Lak, Thailand - Big Blue Tech conducted accelerated technical dives on the Sea Chart 1 shipwreck on the morning of January 9 2010. The purpose of this dive was to explore the recently sunk shipwreck and expose features to other divers who have been limited by recreational diving rules and restrictions.

Aided by a diving modified longtail the group of technical divers included James Thornton-Allan, Mark Slinn, Matt Payne, Emily Billingham and andy Cavell explored the entire shipwreck in a checkout dive to aid further surveys in the days to come.

The shipwreck lies on it’s starboard side in 40m with it’s highest point at 27m. The wreck itself is a staggering 85m and it feels like crossing a football field when finning from bow to stern.

Big Blue Tech have a strict policy againts removing items from wrecks and therefore didn’t disturb any of the items found on there. However, there were signs of items being removed which can only be recognized if you knew what to look for, items like the ships bell and compass have been removed by either recreational divers before us or the navy divers during their survey.

The next few days would be focused around this shipwreck with 2 dives daily on the 10th, 11th and 12th we will be updating this post with pictures as the dives are completed.

Navy divers are taking extra precautions before jumping into the polluted Halifax harbour.

The sewage treatment plant on the Halifax waterfront broke down in January. Since then, 82 million litres of raw sewage and wastewater have been flowing into the harbour.

Leading Seaman Amalia Baptista has certainly noticed the difference.

“The worst part is when you’re on the surface and you’re getting ready to go down and you have all these things floating on the surface. Usually, you should keep your mask on and keep well sealed,” she said.

Baptista and other navy divers were out Tuesday for a corporate-sponsored beach sweep around Point Pleasant Park, off Blackrock Beach.

Since January, they’ve had to trade in their wetsuits for full protective gear that limits their exposure to pollution. The decontamination procedures include rinsing with fresh water, using antifungal ear drops and soaking gear in chemicals.

“We don’t want to get anyone sick due to the conditions,” said Petty Officer Jeff Smith, a dive trainer with the naval reserve.

In addition, the navy has designated parts of the harbour near sewage outfalls off-limits for dive training.

The sewage treatment plant malfunctioned on Jan. 14 following a power outage. Raw sewage flooded the station, destroying several kilometres of cable and electronic equipment.

Municipal officials have taken several steps, including adding large deodorant blocks, to mitigate the sewage stench.

Baptista finds the water “pretty dirty and stinky,” particularly compared to how it was when the sewage treatment plant was running. She said the harbour was much clearer then.

“It’s sad to see all this garbage and all this raw sewage being pumped into the ocean,” said Baptista.

Leading Seaman Robert Barker doesn’t like the floatables, either.

“We have a few nicknames for some of the things we come across from time to time,” said Barker, another diver.

Navy officials say there have been complaints about the foul sewage stench at the HMCS Scotian facility next to the sewer outfall, but no illnesses linked to it.

Officials with the Halifax Regional Municipality have said the sewage treatment plant will be fixed by the spring.

A Portsmouth-based navy diver was given a surprise long service medal as he trained underwater.

Acting Petty Officer Andy Coulson received the award at the bottom of a Gibraltar swimming pool.

He was in the middle of a two-week exercise on the island, which included stints at the military outdoor swimming pool, when he found himself in the midst of the impromptu ceremony.

The 34-year-old Scot, who is based at Horsea Island, said: ‘I was not expecting it.

‘I mentioned it in passing several weeks ago that I thought it would be good to receive my medal underwater rather than on the parade ground, but I didn’t expect anyone to act on it.

‘I’d totally forgotten that I mentioned it, but it’s something that will live with me forever – certainly one of the highlights of my 15-year career in the navy.’

As well as a long service medal, the award recognises PO Coulson’s good conduct over the years as well.

His boss, Lieutenant Simon Leightley, the officer in charge Southern Diving Unit 2, said: ‘Andy’s been selected for promotion and will soon embark on his professional qualifying course, so it seemed an appropriate send-off to present his medal “in the office” so to speak. I gave a slightly shorter citation than normal – mostly through bubbles.’

Joining PO Coulson and Lt Leightley underwater for the presentation was Warrant Officer (Diver) Robin Rickard, representing the Southern Diving Group.

He joined the navy at 16 as an Air Engineer Mechanic, but transferred to the diving branch 11 years ago.

WO Rickard said: ‘I have already had a fulfilling career but am looking forward to continuing my progression.’

NATIONWIDE TEAM

The navy divers based at Horsea Island are part of a nationwide team.

The Northern and Southern Diving Groups are responsible for all diving, demolition and explosive ordnance (bomb) disposal carried out by the navy within UK waters.

They are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and can carry out underwater engineering for the surface and sub-surface fleet on a planned or emergency basis.

The two groups also do bomb disposal duties for the police and coastguard, with Portsmouth’s Unit 2 working from the Humber estuary to Devon.

Dozens of Navy divers and SEALs hauled tires, a commercial kitchen sink and other junk out of Honolulu Harbor yesterday in celebration of World Ocean Day.

“We all live off the ocean,” said Ian Jeffrey Lansdown, owner of Wikoliana Educational Excursions and coordinator of the cleanup. “With teamwork we as a community can achieve miracles.”

Divers started scanning the waters around Pier 7 at 10 a.m. and in groups of three. They used lift bags to float items to the surface.

The items were hoisted by two cranes into a metal bin donated by Schnitzer Steel Hawaii. Lansdown said Schnitzer Steel will recycle scrap metal and give the proceeds to the Friends of the Falls of Clyde, which hopes to rehabilitate the only surviving iron-hulled, four-masted oil tanker.

Honolulu Harbor is the state’s largest commercial harbor and the port of entry for nearly all imports, according to the state Harbors Division. Over the decades, tons of litter has piled up in the harbor, and Lansdown has recovered some of it.

During Wikoliana’s first cleanup project in May, Robin Bond Jr., the organization’s operations manager, joined in the cleanup and found a motorcycle, bicycle and handgun. The overall project is called the Harbor Stewardship Program.

Wikoliana is a new business that works to protect and preserve Honolulu’s harbors and educate the public about the importance of keeping the ocean clean. In the fall, Lansdown will offer tours on a former Navy water taxi of the harbor and the surrounding area.

“The goal of the Harbor Stewardship Program is to educate people to recycle rather than pollute,” said Lansdown. Student volunteers from St. Andrew’s Priory learned about ocean pollution after watching the divers bring up tires and other junk that polluted the harbor. Students also cataloged removed items, while others handed out recycled bracelets with a “Wikoliana Harbor Hero” imprint.

“The clean harbor is a byproduct of education, and it’s a good byproduct,” Lansdown said.

To volunteer for the Wikoliana Harbor Stewardship Program, call 450-9200 or e-mail wikoliana@gmail.com.

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