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Scuba Diving Maui - Carthaginian II

2013-03-19T17:33:28Z

Micahles3:

The [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery/Carthiginian-Shipwreck/G0000uhmxfmGxkic/ Carthaginian II], once utilized as a whaling museum, is a replica of a 19th century brig analogous to the ships that initially delivered trade to the Hawaiian Islands. The vessel was a cement carrier constructed in Germany in the 1920's and rechristened the Carthaginian II. It sailed to Lahaina in 1973 where it took seven years for the historically correct 18th century whaling ship rigging to be assembled. The ship functioned as a reminder of Lahaina's seafaring heritage and was docked for numerous years at Lahaina Harbor. The ship was owned by the Lahaina Restoration Foundation that operated the museum on board that displayed relics of Lahaina's historic whaling days. On December 13, 2005, following two years of preparation, Atlantis Adventures sank the Carthaginian off Lahaina, Maui, creating an artificial reef that will have lasting marine life benefits. The reefing took place off Puamana which is just outside the Lahaina harbor. The 97-foot, steel-hulled vessel, sank in 95 feet of water where it will serve as an artificial reef. Although it had no factual historical importance, the Carthaginian II was one of Lahaina's most recognizable points of interest, featured in thousands of artworks and visitor pictures for over thirty years. The vessel was owned by the nonprofit Lahaina Restoration Foundation, which was spending $50,000 per year to keep the rusting hulk. At what time marine engineers advised against additional repairs because of the mounting costs, Atlantis was approached to claim the ship and utilize it as an artificial reef that should in turn enrich the existing [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/Carthiginian-Shipwreck/G0000uhmxfmGxkic/I0000QolAIWmBtLg Atlantis submarine] tours in Lahaina.The first Carthaginian was a copy of a whaling supply vessel used for the 1966 movie "Hawaii",; based on the James Michener novel. The Lahaina Restoration Foundation bought the wooden ship, but it sank in 1972 on its way to O'ahu for dry dock. The German ship was acquired and was renamed the Carthaginian II and after extensive work functioned as a floating museum for numerous years. A flotilla of roughly 20 boats was waiting when the [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com Carthaginian II] arrived at [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/Carthiginian-Shipwreck/G0000uhmxfmGxkic/I0000VsMtIqSk0zY Puamana], while spectators lined the beach or pulled over on the Honoapi'ilani Highway to view the spectacle. Kahu Charles Kaupu provided a Hawaiian blessing, and after a 3-ton anchor was secured to the bow and the boat was in position, patches were detached from two sets of openings that had been cut into the hull about 18 inches above the water line. Seawater was pumped into the ship, and twenty seven minutes later the Carthaginian was headed toward the sandy bottom and a new shipwreck was born. Viewers let loose with applause and whoops of appreciation as the ship quietly slipped beneath the surface. Aboard the Atlantis shuttle boat 3 air-shattering blasts were fired from small brass cannon to mark the occasion. The Dive The shipwreck rests in roughly ninety feet of water off the coast of Lahina and is a good place for [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery/Scuba-Diving-Underwater-Photography/G0000BWCcQG1I0II/ underwater photography]. It is approximately a ten to fifteen minute trip from the harbor to the scuba diving site. The ship was sunk roughly 7 years before and at the present supports a wide variety of marine life. As soon as you begin to descend from the mooring ball you should ordinarily be able to see the outline of the wreck rather easily. The visibility at this dive site is typically 80+ feet and a great deal of the time in excess of 100+ feet. The main mast collapsed in mid-summer 2011 and may now be seen resting upon the deck. The main cabin roof and walls have deteriorated to some degree and there are copious holes into the cargo hold. The entrance to the hold itself is very large and easily accessible. The engine room and forward compartment is blocked by a gate however you may still get a respectable assortment of pictures in this section. There are a number of frogfish upon the wreck. Smeltzer was able to photograph five different frogfish on my last dive. These fish are very well positioned for [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/Carthiginian-Shipwreck/G0000uhmxfmGxkic/I00009H42w7U0w70 macro underwater] photos and can consume a lot of bottom time, however it is definitely worth the effort. it for your next visit to Maui.
As in all dives I recommend going slowly and take time to appreciate the site. Read other dive site reviews on my [http://blog.stevenwsmeltzer.com blog] and see other [http://stevenwsmeltzer.photoshelter.com/gallery/Scuba-Diving-Underwater-Photography/G0000BWCcQG1I0II/ underwater photographs] on my [http://www.stevenwsmeltzer.com/ website] and follow me on Twitter @ [https://twitter.com/images2inspire images2inspire]. [http://www.stevenwsmeltzer.com/ The pool is open]…

Underwater Digital Cameras

2013-02-20T19:55:24Z

Micahles3: Die Seite wurde neu angelegt: „I recommend looking at a number of important features including lens speed or the "f-stop" rating. The faster the lens., e.g., the lower the f-stop number the bet…“

I recommend looking at a number of important features including lens speed or the "f-stop" rating. The faster the lens., e.g., the lower the f-stop number the better and the more light which the lens allows into the camera making for superior quality, less noise images. f2.0 is very fast and f3.9 is ok, but it will have more difficulty in lower light situations and will generally be more hard to focus in reduced light situations. Another feature of a [http://www.squidoo.com/best-waterproof-point-and-shoot-camera waterproof digital camera] would be the capability of the zoom lens and how much of the "zoom" is produced by the lens compared to a digital zoom, where a software program is producing the zooming effect. One more characteristic for taking pictures up close would be the capability to take macro photos and how close to the subject you can come with the camera and still focus. One other characteristic to think about is the capability to take video and the video processors speed, e.g., does the camera have a high speed video processor meaning it can capture over 200 frames per second (fps), or does it have a low speed video processor. A faster vidwo processor will create higher quality videos. A careful review of each cameras features can help you determine {[http://www.squidoo.com/best-waterproof-point-and-shoot-camera which is the best point and shoot camera]|[http://www.squidoo.com/best-waterproof-point-and-shoot-camera what is the best point and shoot camera] for you.

The evaluations of the top digital cameras listed below provides a good overview of a number of of the best point and shoot water-resistant cameras along with a recommendation on the best camera.

Waterproof cameras reviewed:
<ol>
<li>Panasonic Lumix TS4 12.1 TOUGH Waterproof Digital Camera with 4.6x Optical Zoom
<li>Nikon COOLPIX AW100 16 MP CMOS Waterproof Digital Camera with GPS and Full HD 1080p Video
<li>Canon PowerShot D20 12.1 MP CMOS Waterproof Digital Camera with 5x Image Stabilized Zoom 28mm Wide-Angle Lens a 3.0-Inch LCD and GPS Tracking
<li>Fujifilm XP170 Compact Digital Camera with 5xOptical Zoom Lens
<li>Olympus Stylus TG-830 iHS Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and 3-Inch LCD
<li>Pentax Optio WG-1 Adventure Series 14 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 5x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom
<li>Olympus TG-1iHS 12 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
</li>
</ol>

In case you are willing to spend approximately $1,000 to get the [http://www.squidoo.com/best-waterproof-point-and-shoot-camera top underwater camera] system then one of the best underwater cameras in the extreme digital camera market is certainly the Olympus TG-1 iHS. This camera when bought with the optional Olympus underwater case and strobe allows the diver to take photographs in around 130 feet of water and also makes a very good entry level underwater [http://www.squidoo.com/best-waterproof-point-and-shoot-camera compact digital camera] for any diver. Total investment consists of the camera, a rugged case which enables the diver to take the camera to a depth of 135 feet along with an independent strobe that offers the capability to shoot in a varity of different situations.

Scuba Diving BCDs for Travel

2013-02-11T13:32:34Z

Micahles3:

Examination of five great travel BCDs that are lightweight and provide interesting features and value to a range of scuba divers from the amateur to advanced divers.

I am a professional underwater photographer and my equipment is extremely important to me and gets plenty of wear and tear. I require equipment that is durable over hundreds if not thousands of dives and as "travel" worthy as possible. There have been a quantity of wonderful new travel [http://www.squidoo.com/workshop/best-travel-bcd-for-scuba-diving BCDs] which have been introduced in the last 3 years and I have highlighted a few of my choice ones below.

The aim of any BCD ought to be function first and after that comfort. The Lightweight BCDs assessed here supply a practical degree of function and along with excellent fit. The trade off on[http://www.squidoo.com/workshop/best-travel-bcd-for-scuba-diving travel BCDs] is more often than not limitations in storage pockets, lift (which is very important if you carry a lot of weight when you dive), security of your tank while you are scuba diving, D-rings for additional gear and ride when you are on the surface of the water.

The BCDs listed below give good form and function and a varying amount of additional features. Examine the features of all and determine which best meets your needs. I believe the majority of divers will be happy with any of these BCDs and I would like to get your opinion as well. <strong>Great Travel BCDs</strong>

Mares F-Light Buoyancy Compensator
Cressi Travelight BCD
Oceanic Bio Lite BCD
Tusa - X-Pert Lightweight BCD
Scubapro GO BCD

[http://www.stevenwsmeltzer.com The Pool is Open]....

Diving on the USS Kittiwake

2013-01-27T15:48:49Z

Micahles3:

This is the top wreck dive in Grand Cayman and one of the best in the Caribbean. The USS Kittiwake which was sunk a little over one year and the dive site is aging very well. The shipwreck has five decks, is 251.6 ft (76.7 m) in length, 42ft (12.8 m) in beam and about 50 feet high. The ship was built specifically for submarine rescue and was launched on July 10, 1945 and she was reefed in Grand Cayman on January 5, 2011.

The following is a description of what to expect on the dive some history about the ship and information regarding the ship and an overview of what one can find on the shipwreck. You can see the whole [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery/Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/ photo gallery] on the website and see the internet blogsite entry for the [http://blog.stevenwsmeltzer.com/dive-site-reviews-and-listings/dive-sites/scuba-diving-grand-cayman-uss-kittiwake-shipwreck/ USS Kittiwake] for supplementary information on the shipwreck along with a history about the ship.

The Dive:

The boat was reefed In january 2011 off the north end of Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman.

There are 5 decks on the 47 foot tall [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000Wcb0w0RopvI USS Kittiwake]. To meet caymanian law regarding reefed ships, a portion of the upper mast was removed. The upper decks accommodate the 2 bridges along with the radio and navigation room. The sonar has been removed from the ship. The Captain and executive officer's quarters are located on the upper decks

The main deck contains the rec room, mess hall, ironing room, small tool workshop and recompression chambers.. You will also see a large [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000nrOSPnFJRtU a-frame structure] on the stern which rescue divers, along with the diving bell which was used to bring back divers to the ship and to then move to the recompression chambers

The crews quarters, the engine room and medical facilities are located below the main deck along with ,[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000QmV9jUuDJyQ air bank storage] and compressors, as well as the steering gear, shaft, gyro, ammunition lockers, cold storage and barber shop to name a few areas. While there are now a number of large[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000evHtkg3GaYQ access holes] in the sides of the ship, every space on the boat was used when the boat was in service.

Make sure to chart your dive well. One approach would be to begin at the stern before entry into the shipwreck to take photographs near the[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000MlfKl.47lgI "USS Kittiwake" logo] on the stern and in addition get pictures by the screw (propeller) and rudder. For Divers that intend on entering the wreck, you can then make your way to the top of the ship then enter via the main funnel which is on on the Bridge Deck. If you do not intend on entering the wreck you may start your investigation of the ship on the main deck just above the Propeller.

The main [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000ndu7PcxF.bM entry through the funnel makes an excellent underwater photograph] . try silhouetting your dive partner in the shaft diving down into the shipwreck. You can exit into the ship on several of the decks including the first platform or in the hold. The hold does not have any exterior exits and should only be entered by advanced divers. On the first platform you will see the Engineering emblem in the Motor Room section. This section can be accessed easily and can be a good location for a especially good underwater photograph close to the "[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000Y0UeUwX5JJc Engineering Mural]". The sediment may be heavy at this point so you need to move slowly to avoid clouding up the water. For experienced divers you can also explore shaft alley as well as the front hold regions of the shipwreck. For others you can view the assorted compartments on the first platform and after that begin going up deck by deck and then finally coming to the Bridge (Pilot House) where you can do you safety stop as it is at about 5 to 6 meters or 15 to 18 feet.

Check out photos of other [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery/Shipwrecks/G0000OtMyTETA74I/ shipwrecks] on http://www.stevenwsmeltzer.com or visit his [http://blog.stevenwsmeltzer.com/dive-site-reviews-and-listings/dive-sites/scuba-diving-grand-cayman-uss-kittiwake-shipwreck/ blog] for reviews of other wrecks.

Diving on the USS Kittiwake

2013-01-25T11:39:13Z

Micahles3: Die Seite wurde neu angelegt: „This is a great shipwreck dive in grand cayman and one of the best in the caribbean The USS Kittiwake was reefed a less than two years ago and the site is maturi…“

This is a great shipwreck dive in grand cayman and one of the best in the caribbean The USS Kittiwake was reefed a less than two years ago and the site is maturing very well. The shipwreck has five decks, is 251.6 ft (76.7 m) in length, 42ft (12.8 m) in beam and around 50 feet high. The vessel was built for performing submarine rescues and was launched on July 10, 1945 and she was reefed in Grand Cayman on January 5, 2011.

This article provides an overview of the dive, a little history and other data concerning the shipwreck and an synopsis of what you can find on the shipwreck. You can see the complete [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery/Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/ photo gallery] on the website and see the internet blogsite article for the [http://blog.stevenwsmeltzer.com/dive-site-reviews-and-listings/dive-sites/scuba-diving-grand-cayman-uss-kittiwake-shipwreck/ USS Kittiwake] for supplementary data on the wreck and a history about the ship.

The Dive:

The vessel was sunk In january 2011 off the west side of the island at the end of Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman.

There are 5 decks on the 47 foot tall [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000Wcb0w0RopvI USS Kittiwake]. Externally, the crow's nest, mast and large stern a-frame have been cut down and remounted to make her height suitable for Cayman waters. The are two bridges on the upper decks (both an external and internal bridge to allow operations in heavy seas) along with the navigation and radio rooms. The sonar was also removed from the ship. The Captain and XO's quarters are located on the upper decks

The main deck contains the mess hall, toolshop, recompression chambers and rec room. You will also see a large [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000nrOSPnFJRtU a-frame structure] on the stern that supported submarines and hard hat divers, as well as the diving bell where divers would enter to return to the ship from the ocean and then be placed in the chambers for decompression.

Below the main deck, 2 decks exist that include the crews quarter, medic/hospital station, engine and propulsion rooms,[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000QmV9jUuDJyQ air bank storage] and compressors, as well as the steering gear, shaft, gyro, ammunition lockers, cold storage and barber shop to name a few areas. While the USS Kittiwake has been opened up with large[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000evHtkg3GaYQ access holes] both vertically and horizontally, every space on the ship was used while in service.

Make it a point to chart your dive well. One approach would be to begin at the stern before entering into the ship to get pictures around the[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000MlfKl.47lgI "USS Kittiwake" logo] on the the backof the ship and in addition get photos by the propeller. For Divers that intend on penetrating the wreck, after you leave the stern make your way to the top of the ship then go into the funnel which is located on the Top Deck. Should you not intend on entering the wreck you may start your investigation of the ship on the main deck just above the Screw..

The main [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000ndu7PcxF.bM entry through the funnel makes an excellent underwater photograph] . try silhouetting your dive partner in the shaft diving down into the wreck. You can then exit the shaft on the first platform or in the hold. The hold does not have any exterior exits and should only be entered by advanced divers. When you exit to the first platform you will see the Engineering logo in the Motor Room section. This area is easily accessible and can be the subject of a incredibly interesting underwater photo close to the "[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000Y0UeUwX5JJc Engineering Mural]". The sediment may be heavy in this location so you should move slowly to prevent stirring up the sediment. For experienced divers you may also check out shaft alley and the front hold areas of the ship. For others you can check out the various compartments on the first platform and then begin going up deck by deck and then finally coming to the Bridge (Pilot House) where you can do your safety stop.

Look at photographs of additional [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery/Shipwrecks/G0000OtMyTETA74I/ shipwrecks] on http://www.stevenwsmeltzer.com or visit his [http://blog.stevenwsmeltzer.com/dive-site-reviews-and-listings/dive-sites/scuba-diving-grand-cayman-uss-kittiwake-shipwreck/ blog] for reviews of other wrecks.