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Wreck Diving Maui Carthaginian II

Louburst3 — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:20:46 GMT

Louburst3:

The [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery/Carthiginian-Shipwreck/G0000uhmxfmGxkic/ Carthaginian II], once utilized as a whaling museum, is a reproduction of a 19th century brig analogous to the ships that first introduced commerce to the Hawaiian Islands. This ship was a cement carrier built in Germany in the 1920's and renamed the [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com 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 served as a reminder of Lahaina's nautical heritage and was docked for numerous years at Lahaina Harbor. The ship was owned by the Lahaina Restoration Foundation which operated the museum on board that displayed relics of Lahaina's historic whaling days. Atlantis Adventures sank the Carthaginian II outside of Lahaina Harbor in Maui on Dec 13, 2005, 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 real historical worth, the Carthaginian II was one of Lahaina's most recognizable points of interest, featured in thousands of artworks and visitor photographs for in excess of thirty years. The ship was owned by the nonprofit Lahaina Restoration Foundation, that was spending $50,000 per year to preserve the decaying hulk. At what time marine engineers advised against more repairs as a result of the rising costs, Atlantis was approached to claim the vessel 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 ship that was used for the 1966 film "Hawaii",; based on the James Michener novel. The Lahaina Restoration Foundation bought the wooden boat, but it sank in 1972 on its voyage to O'ahu for dry dock. The German ship was acquired and was renamed the Carthaginian II and following extensive work served the city as a floating museum for many years. A fleet of roughly 20 boats was waiting when the Carthaginian II arrived at [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/Carthiginian-Shipwreck/G0000uhmxfmGxkic/I0000VsMtIqSk0zY Puamana], and spectators lined the shore or pulled over on the Honoapi'ilani Highway to watch the spectacle. Kahu Charles Kaupu offered a Hawaiian blessing, and after a 3-ton anchor was secured to the bow and the ship was in position, patches were removed from two sets of openings that had been cut into the hull about 18 inches above the water line. Seawater was pumped into the hull, and twenty seven minutes afterward the Carthaginian was headed to the sandy bottom and a new shipwreck was born. Viewers let loose with applause and whoops of appreciation as the vessel silently slipped beneath the surface. Aboard the Atlantis shuttle boat 3 air-shattering blasts were fired from miniature brass cannon to mark the occasion. Dive Overview The shipwreck rests in approximately ninety feet of water off the coast of Lahina and makes a excellent place for [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery/Scuba-Diving-Underwater-Photography/G0000BWCcQG1I0II/ underwater photography]. It is approximately a ten to 15 minute excursion from the harbor to the dive site. The ship was sunk about 7 years ago and at this time provides a home for a wide mix of marine life. As soon as you begin to descend from the mooring ball you will usually be able to spot the outline of the shipwreck relatively easily. The visibility at this dive site is regularly 80+ feet and much of the time over 100+ feet. There may be some current on the site so a few scuba divers might want to descend using the mooring line. As you descend you should begin to become aware of more particulars regarding the shipwreck and the impacts of being upon the reef for roughly seven years. The main mast fell in mid-summer 2011 and can at this time be seen sitting on the main deck. The main cabin roof and walls have deteriorated to a certain degree and there are numerous holes into the cargo hold. The entrance to the hold itself is rather large and readily manageable. The engine room along with the forward compartment is blocked by a gate however you can still get a good variety of shots around this area. The rear section of the cargo hold is absolutely clear and at the present time should contain various fish species or crustaceans as they are moving about the shipwreck. There are a number of frogfish on the shipwreck. I was able to photograph five different frogfish on my last dive. These fish are extremely well positioned for macro photographs and may consume a lot of bottom time, nevertheless it is definitely worth the effort. Two frogfish were upon the main deck to the rear of the main cabin and three were on the starboard side about the midships area. This shipwreck dive is best while there are fewer than ten divers in the water given that the vessel itself is not very big. While scuba diving on the ship, you can also find a ample assortment of fish including, Pacific Trumpetfish, Sergeant Majors, Dascyllus, Orangespine Unicornfish, Rainbow Cleaner Wrasse, and many more. It is a interesting dive and is highly recommended for your next journey 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]�

Wreck Diving Maui Carthaginian II

Louburst3 — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:20:38 GMT

Louburst3: Die Seite wurde neu angelegt: „The [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery/Carthiginian-Shipwreck/G0000uhmxfmGxkic/ Carthaginian II], once utilized as a whaling museum, is a reproduction of a 19th …“

Scuba Diving BCDs for Travel

Louburst3 — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 13:54:41 GMT

Louburst3:

Examination of five terrific travel BCDs that are lightweight and supply interesting features and value to a variety of scuba divers from the beginner to advanced divers.

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

The purpose of any BCD should be function first and then comfort. The Lightweight BCDs assessed here supply a reasonable amount of function and along with great fit. The trade off on[http://www.squidoo.com/workshop/best-travel-bcd-for-scuba-diving travel BCDs] is usually 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 provide good form and function and a varying degree of additional features. Examine the features of each and ascertain which best meets your needs. I think the majority of divers will be pleased with any of these BCDs and I would like to get your feedback 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]....

Scuba Diving Grand Cayman - USS Kittiwake

Louburst3 — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 04:26:36 GMT

Louburst3:

This is the top wreck dive in Grand Cayman and one of the best in the Caribbean. The USS Kittiwake has been on the reef for a less than two years ago and the shipwreck site is maturing well. The ship has five decks, is 251.6 ft (76.7 m) in length, 42ft (12.8 m) in beam and around 50 feet high. The ship was designated for performing submarine rescues and was launched on July 10, 1945 and which was sunk in Grand Cayman on January 5, 2011.

The following is a description of the dive, some history and other information about the shipwreck and an synopsis of what you will see on the shipwreck. You can see the complete [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery/Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/ photo gallery] on the web site and see the blog article 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 along with a history of the ship.

The Dive:

The vessel was reefed January 5, 2011 off the west side of the island at the end of Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman.

There are five decks on the [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 has been removed from the ship. The Captain and executive officer's quarters are located 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 see an [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000nrOSPnFJRtU a-frame structure] on the stern which supported submarines and hard hat divers, along with 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 ammunition lockers, cold storage, barber shop and other areas. While the USS Kittiwake has been opened up with 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 used when the boat was in service.

Make sure to chart your dive adequately. One approach would be to begin at the stern before entry into the ship to get pictures near the[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000MlfKl.47lgI "USS Kittiwake" logo] on the stern and in addition get photographs by the propeller. For Divers that intend on penetrating the wreck, you can then make your way to the top of the ship and enter via the main funnel which is located on the Top Deck. Should you not intend on penetrating the wreck you may start your investigation of the ship on the 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] 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 shipwreck. You can exit into the ship on several of the decks including the first platform or in the hold. Note the hold deck does not have any exterior exit points and is not recommended for divers that do not have an advanced certification and prior wreck experience. When you exit to the first platform you will see the Engineering logo in the Motor Room section. This section can be accessed easily and makes for a very interesting underwater photograph near the "[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000Y0UeUwX5JJc Engineering Mural]". The silt may be heavy at this point so you should move gradually to prevent stirring up the sediment. For advanced divers you may also look at shaft alley and the front hold sections of the shipwreck. For other divers you can view the assorted compartments on the first platform and after that 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 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 critiques of specific shipwrecks.

USS Kittiwake dive

Louburst3 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 08:38:00 GMT

Louburst3: 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 has been on the reef for a about 18 months ago and the dive…“

This is a great shipwreck dive in grand cayman and one of the best in the caribbean The USS Kittiwake has been on the reef for a about 18 months ago and the dive site is aging well. The ship has five decks, is a little over76 meters in length amd 12 meters in beam and around 50 feet high. The ship was designated specifically for submarine rescue and was launched on July 10, 1945 and she was reefed in Grand Cayman in January 2011.

This article provides a description of what to expect on the dive some history and information concerning the shipwreck and an synopsis of what you will see on the shipwreck. Plese see the entire [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 more information on the shipwreck and a history of the ship.

What you will find on the Dive:

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

There are five decks on the [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 radio and navigation room. The sonar was also removed from the ship. 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 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 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] in the sides of the ship, all of the space on the ship was used when the boat was in service.

Make it a point to plan your dive well. I would recommend heading to the stern before entry into the vessel to take pictures around the[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000MlfKl.47lgI "USS Kittiwake" logo] on the stern and also get pictures by the propeller. For Divers that intend on penetrating the shipwreck, you can then make your way to the top of the ship and go into the main funnel that is on on the Top Deck. If you do not plan on penetrating the shipwreck you can begin your exploration on the main deck just above the Screw..

The [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 shipwreck. You can then exit the shaft on the first platform or in the cargo 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 a good location for a incredibly good underwater photograph near the "[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000Y0UeUwX5JJc Engineering Mural]". The sediment can be substantial here so you should move slowly to prevent clouding up the water. For advanced divers you may also check out shaft alley as well as the forward hold sections of the shipwreck. For other divers you can check out a variety of compartments on the first platform and after that 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.

Look at photos 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 shipwrecks.