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Maui Shipwreck Carthaginian II

2013-03-10T20:04:11Z

Othacart04: Die Seite wurde neu angelegt: „The [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery/Carthiginian-Shipwreck/G0000uhmxfmGxkic/ Carthaginian II], once used as a whaling museum, is a replica of a 19th century b…“

The [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery/Carthiginian-Shipwreck/G0000uhmxfmGxkic/ Carthaginian II], once used as a whaling museum, is a replica of a 19th century brig similar to the ships that first introduced trade to the Hawaiian Islands. This vessel was a cement carrier constructed in Germany in the 1920's and renamed the Carthaginian II. It sailed to Lahaina in 1973 where it took seven years for the historically accurate 18th century whaling ship rigging to be assembled. The ship functioned as a reminder of Lahaina's maritime heritage and was docked for many years at Lahaina Harbor. The ship was owned by the Lahaina Restoration Foundation which operated the museum on board which 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. Atlantis spent around $350,000 on the [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery/Carthiginian-Shipwreck/G0000uhmxfmGxkic/ Carthaginian shipwreck project], including preparation of environmental studies. American Marine Services was employed to handle the sinking operation. Before the Carthaginian II was towed from Lahaina Harbor, entertainers from the Old Lahaina Lu'au performed "Aloha" ; and members of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation placed lei on the ship and held signs bidding it aloha. To prepare for the sinking, 10 tons of concrete had been loaded on board, adding to the 35 tons of material the boat already was carrying. Atlantis' small tugboat Roxie pulled the [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com Carthaginian II] from the harbor before transferring the operation to the larger American Islander tugboat. A fleet of approximately twenty boats watched the Carthaginian II as it arrived at Puamana along with numerous spectators lining the seashore. A blessing was offered in Hawaiian and a three ton anchor was secured to the bow section and seawater began to be pumped into the hull. Twenty seven minutes afterward the vessel sank to the bottom amidst applause from the audience and the blasts of three miniature brass cannons. The Dive The vessel was sunk approximately 7 years ago and at the present provides a home for a large mix of marine life. When you start to descend from the mooring ball you will on average be able to distinguish 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 shipwreck lies in approximately ninety ft of water off the coast of Lahina and is a great spot for underwater photography. The main mast fell in mid-summer 2011 and can now be seen resting on the main deck. The main cabin roof and walls have begun to decay to some degree and there are numerous holes into the hold. The access to the hold itself is rather large and readily accessible. The engine room and forward compartment is blocked by a gate however you may still get a good variety of pictures in this section. There are several frogfish upon the wreck. Smeltzer was able to photograph five different frogfish on my most recent dive. These fish are very well positioned for [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/Carthiginian-Shipwreck/G0000uhmxfmGxkic/I00009H42w7U0w70 macro underwater] pictures and can use up a lot of bottom time, nevertheless it is well worth the effort. While scuba diving on the shipwreck, you will also find a broad assortment of fish such as, Pacific Trumpetfish, Sergeant Majors, Dascyllus, Orangespine Unicornfish, Rainbow Cleaner Wrasse, and many more. This shipwreck dive is best when there are less than 10 divers in the water given that the ship itself is not very big. It makes a quite interesting dive and I highly recommend
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]…

Best Travel BCDs

2013-02-06T05:35:39Z

Othacart04:

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

I am a professional underwater photographer and my equipment is especially significant to me and takes lots of wear and tear. I require gear that is resilient over hundreds if not thousands of dives and as "travel" worthy as possible. There have been a quantity of wonderful new lightweight or travel [http://www.squidoo.com/workshop/best-travel-bcd-for-scuba-diving BCDs] that have been introduced in the last 3 years and I have highlighted some of my favorite ones below.

The aim of any BCD should be function first and after that comfort. The Lightweight BCDs reviewed at this time supply a practical amount of function and along with good fit. The trade off on[http://www.squidoo.com/workshop/best-travel-bcd-for-scuba-diving travel BCDs] is more often than not restrictions 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 optional 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 optional features. Examine the features of each and determine which best meets your needs. I believe most 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]....

USS Kittiwake dive

2013-02-05T06:41:48Z

Othacart04:

This is a great wreck dive in grand cayman and one of the best in the caribbean The USS Kittiwake was reefed a little over one year and the dive site is maturing very well. The ship has five decks, is a little over76 meters in length amd 12 meters in beam and approximately 50 feet high. The vessel was built 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 the dive, some history and other data regarding the vessel and an guide of what you can find on the shipwreck. Review the entire [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery/Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/ photo gallery] on the website and/or 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 additional data on the wreck plus a history of the ship.

What you will find on the Dive:

The ship 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]. A portion of the upper part of the ship was removed to meet cayman requirements The are two bridges on the upper decks along with the navigation and radio rooms. The sonar was also removed. The Captain and XO's quarters are also on the upper decks.

On the main deck, from bow to stern, internally you will find the mess hall, toolshop, recompression chambers and rec room. You will note the 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 big[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000evHtkg3GaYQ access holes] in the sides of the ship, every space on the ship was used while in service.

Be sure to chart your dive well. I would recommend heading to the stern prior to entry into the vessel to take pictures near the[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000MlfKl.47lgI "USS Kittiwake" logo] on the stern and also get photos by the screw (propeller) and rudder. For Scuba Divers that intend on penetrating the wreck, after you leave the stern make your way to the top of the ship and enter via the funnel that is on on the Bridge Deck. If you do not intend on penetrating the shipwreck you can begin your exploration on the deck just above the Screw..

The main [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000ndu7PcxF.bM funnel entry makes an excellent underwater photograph] and I would suggest taking the photo looking up from the bottom of the funnel to the top of the funnel. I would suggest silhouetting one of your dive buddies diving down into the wreck. 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. When you exit to the first platform you can see the Engineering emblem in the Motor Room section. This area is easily accessible and can be the subject of a very good underwater photograph close to the "[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000Y0UeUwX5JJc Engineering Mural]". The sediment may be substantial at this point so you should move slowly to prevent stirring up the sediment. For advanced divers you should also check out shaft alley as well as the front hold regions of the shipwreck. For others you can explore a variety of compartments on the first platform and then start going up one deck at a time and then finally arriving at 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 images 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 specific wrecks.

Scuba Diving Grand Cayman - USS Kittiwake

2013-01-31T02:37:04Z

Othacart04:

This is the top wreck dive in Grand Cayman and one of the top ten in the Caribbean. The USS Kittiwake which was sunk a less than two years ago and the shipwreck site is aging well. The ship has five decks, is a little over76 meters in length amd 12 meters in beam and approximately 50 feet high. The vessel was designated for submarine rescue and was launched on July 10, 1945 and which was sunk in Grand Cayman on January 5, 2011.

This article provides an overview of the dive, some history and information about the vessel and an guide of what you can find on the shipwreck. Review the complete [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery/Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/ photo gallery] on the web site 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 more information on the wreck plus a history of the ship.

The Dive site:

The boat was sunk January 5, 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]. 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 has been removed. The Captain and XO's quarters are located on the upper decks

The main deck contains a number of different rooms or work areas including the recompresson chambers, the rec room and toolshop. You will see an [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000nrOSPnFJRtU a-frame structure] on the stern that rescue 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.

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 big[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000evHtkg3GaYQ access holes] both vertically and horizontally, all of the space on the boat was utilized when she was in service.

Be sure to lay out your dive adequately. One approach would be to begin at the stern prior to entry into the ship to get photographs 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 pictures by the screw (propeller) and rudder. For Scuba Divers that plan on penetrating the wreck, you can then make your way to the top of the ship and go into the main funnel which is on on the Bridge Deck. If you do not plan on entering the shipwreck you may begin your exploration on the deck just above the Propeller.

The main [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000ndu7PcxF.bM funnel entry makes an excellent underwater photograph] . try silhouetting your dive partner in the shaft diving down into the shipwreck. You can then exit the shaft on the first platform or in the cargo hold. The cargo hold should only be entered by experienced advanced divers. When you exit to the first platform you will be able to see the Engineering logo in the Motor Room section. This area is easily accessible and can be a good location for a especially good underwater photo close to the "[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000Y0UeUwX5JJc Engineering Mural]". The silt may be heavy at this point so you must move slowly to prevent stirring up the sediment. For experienced wreck divers you may also look at shaft alley as well as the front hold regions of the ship. For other divers you may explore the assorted compartments on the first platform and then start going up one deck at a time and then finally arriving at the Bridge (Pilot House) where you can do your safety stop.

Check out photographs 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 evaluations of other wrecks.