Past & Present Shipwreck News & Articles
This webpage is dedicated to various underwater shipwrecks news and magazine articles of interest … many featuring the activities of URA:
Couple die on deep Great Lakes dive - June 2019
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A woman has died and her husband is missing, presumed dead, following a scuba diving incident in Lake Michigan, USA, on 28 June.
The couple were James and Susan Winn, both 53, from Kildeer, Illinois. Said to be experienced wreck-divers, they were diving in an area reported to be 90m deep about 17 miles east of Milwaukee, from a 10m charter-boat called the Alma. Susan Winn was reported to have made a rapid ascent from depth. The Coast Guard received a report at about 2pm that she had been found floating unconscious at the surface. She was recovered to the boat where CPR was administered before being airlifted to the Coast Guard station, but she was pronounced dead on arrival.
The Coast Guard reported that the dive-boat skipper was waiting for three other divers to surface after long expected decompression times, but it was later informed that James Winn had gone missing. The other two divers made it back to the boat uninjured.
A helicopter, boat and police marine units carried out a search operation covering some 240sq miles but this was called off the following morning, when Winn was presumed dead.
The average depth of Lake Michigan is 85m, and in parts it’s as deep as 280m.
Divers are attracted to its many shipwrecks, often well-preserved in the deep, cold, fresh waters, and it is claimed that there could be as many as 25,000 wrecks scattered over an area of 36,000sq miles, most of them undiscovered.
Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the fatal incident.
The couple were James and Susan Winn, both 53, from Kildeer, Illinois. Said to be experienced wreck-divers, they were diving in an area reported to be 90m deep about 17 miles east of Milwaukee, from a 10m charter-boat called the Alma. Susan Winn was reported to have made a rapid ascent from depth. The Coast Guard received a report at about 2pm that she had been found floating unconscious at the surface. She was recovered to the boat where CPR was administered before being airlifted to the Coast Guard station, but she was pronounced dead on arrival.
The Coast Guard reported that the dive-boat skipper was waiting for three other divers to surface after long expected decompression times, but it was later informed that James Winn had gone missing. The other two divers made it back to the boat uninjured.
A helicopter, boat and police marine units carried out a search operation covering some 240sq miles but this was called off the following morning, when Winn was presumed dead.
The average depth of Lake Michigan is 85m, and in parts it’s as deep as 280m.
Divers are attracted to its many shipwrecks, often well-preserved in the deep, cold, fresh waters, and it is claimed that there could be as many as 25,000 wrecks scattered over an area of 36,000sq miles, most of them undiscovered.
Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the fatal incident.
THE NIAGARA DIVERS’ ASSOCIATION PRESENTS
THE 25TH ANNUAL SHIPWRECKS SYMPOSIUM,"SHIPWRECKS/2019"
CANADA’S LARGEST SHIPWRECK SHOW TICKETS ON SALE
AT http://niagaradivers.com/shipwrecks/sw2019/reg2019.html
Saturday, April 13, 2019 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Centennial Secondary School... 240 Thorold Road, Welland, Ontario
Speakers & Presentations
Tickets $49 CDN ($43 USD) ordered up to March 8, 2019
Tickets $54 CDN ($48 USD) After March 8, 2019
Lunch & Refreshments Included On-line registration available
As announced on stage at Shipwrecks 2018, we have a special offer to thank you for attending last year’s show.
If you bring someone new to the show this year at full price, we will reduce your ticket cost to just $25 for the 25th anniversary! To take advantage of this offer, please use the following link: http://niagaradivers.com/shipwrecks/sw2019/onlr2_before.html
Fill in your information first, followed by the info of the new person that you are bringing. Then pay the full price of $98 ($49 x 2 people). After Andy Olejarz our Treasurer has confirmed that you attended last year’s show, he will then rebate back to you $24.
For More Information Please Visit
http://niagaradivers.com [email protected]
AT http://niagaradivers.com/shipwrecks/sw2019/reg2019.html
Saturday, April 13, 2019 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Centennial Secondary School... 240 Thorold Road, Welland, Ontario
Speakers & Presentations
- Tom Wilson Master of Ceremonies & Things They Didn’t Teach on Your Open Water Course
- Richie Kohler Mystery of the Last Olympian
- Cris Kohl & Joan Forsberg DIVE ONTARIO! Here We Go Again!
- Jonathan Moore The White North Has Thy Bones: The Wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror
- Scarlett Janusas The AVRO Arrow Model Search and Recovery Project
- Mike & Georgann Wachter Romancing the Lake; 40 years of Lake Erie Shipwreck Discovery and Exploration
- Kayla Martin A Women’s Day of Diving
- Art Amos & Dan Lindsay Four Gems of Tobermory
Tickets $49 CDN ($43 USD) ordered up to March 8, 2019
Tickets $54 CDN ($48 USD) After March 8, 2019
Lunch & Refreshments Included On-line registration available
As announced on stage at Shipwrecks 2018, we have a special offer to thank you for attending last year’s show.
If you bring someone new to the show this year at full price, we will reduce your ticket cost to just $25 for the 25th anniversary! To take advantage of this offer, please use the following link: http://niagaradivers.com/shipwrecks/sw2019/onlr2_before.html
Fill in your information first, followed by the info of the new person that you are bringing. Then pay the full price of $98 ($49 x 2 people). After Andy Olejarz our Treasurer has confirmed that you attended last year’s show, he will then rebate back to you $24.
For More Information Please Visit
http://niagaradivers.com [email protected]
Manasoo - Georgian Bay, CA - From AutoClassics November 23, 2018
![Picture](/uploads/1/0/6/2/106221155/published/canadian-shipwreck-manasoo-georgian-bay_2.png)
Canadian Manasoo shipwreck found in over 200' of water in Georgian Bay. Click the link above to read more about the wreck and the discovery.
Still secured in the hold is a vintage car belonging to one of the passengers on that fateful day. Identified as a 1927 Chevrolet Coupe, this classic has been well preserved thanks to Georgian Bay being a freshwater environment, as opposed to corrosive salt water found in oceans.
Still secured in the hold is a vintage car belonging to one of the passengers on that fateful day. Identified as a 1927 Chevrolet Coupe, this classic has been well preserved thanks to Georgian Bay being a freshwater environment, as opposed to corrosive salt water found in oceans.
![Picture](/uploads/1/0/6/2/106221155/published/canadian-shipwreck-manasoo-georgian-bay-2-video-link_2.png)
Another great link from MUST SEE, November 26, 2018 gives need video of the shipwreck. Clink HERE to visit the link.
The steamship Manasoo sank some 90 years ago was finally found at the bottom of Lake Huron. Divers got a chance to explore the wreckage of the Manasoo, which sank in 1928. It was discovered in excellent condition.
The steamship Manasoo sank some 90 years ago was finally found at the bottom of Lake Huron. Divers got a chance to explore the wreckage of the Manasoo, which sank in 1928. It was discovered in excellent condition.
NOAA Uses New Technology Searching For Shipwrecks - Nov/Dec 2018
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noaa_technology___treasures_article.pdf |
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searching_for_ships_-_pi_noaa_article_nov_2018.pdf |
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Read the article in Dive Training (Nov / Dec 2018) on how NOAA at the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (Alpena, Michigan) spent time this summer on testing out new technology in the search of sunken shipwrecks and mapping the bathometry of Thunder Bay waters. Interesting read. Download the PDF document above (two pages).
Shipwrecks (Issue 43 - Nov/Dec 2018) Article by Cris Kohl & the CLIFTON
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shipwrecks_issue_43___clifton_article.pdf |
![Picture](/uploads/1/0/6/2/106221155/published/z-wjm-0405_2.jpg)
Read Cris Kohl's awesome article in Shipwrecks magazine titled "Deathblow on Lake Superior" which documents Captain Alexander McDougall's "whaleboats. The article also mentions the Clifton (originally named the Samual Mather) … which was discovered by URA in the summer of 2016. The Clifton was dove on extensively by URA this summer (2018) and lots of new video and discoveries were documented. See 2018 Activity page.
Download the PDF above … approx. eight pages with color photos.
Read more about the Clifton at: Clifton Shipwreck
Download the PDF above … approx. eight pages with color photos.
Read more about the Clifton at: Clifton Shipwreck
Marine History - Engines
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marine_steam_engines.docx |
![Picture](/uploads/1/0/6/2/106221155/published/marine-engines-article_2.jpg)
Part of the fun searching for old shipwrecks includes the history and research involved. Once found it may take considerable effort to identify the shipwreck. There are multiple ways to achieve this … but one method that bears high reliability is to verify the type of mode of transportation. In sails this can include the number and types of masts. In many of the lost "steamers" knowing and identifying the type of steam engine can nail down the ID. Here is an article extracted from Wikipedia describing a number of marine engines used during the time of many shipwrecks. Data was extracted and formatted in the Microsoft WORD document for use on this site. Great historic read for those of you interested in the old technology used on the Great Lakes. You'll note many of the types are included on this web site under the Shipwreck Discoveries page.
Mission Possible: Marine Archaeology
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mission_possible_-_marine_archaeology.docx |
![Picture](/uploads/1/0/6/2/106221155/published/article-mission-impossible-marine-archaeology_2.jpg)
An interesting article published in Dive Magazine (website: : http://divemagazine.co.uk/travel/8037-advances-in-marine-archaeology ) that shows how the large number of advances in technology have drastically changed the manner in which marine archaeology has been positively impacted. Nice update on lots of technology, including the documentation of shipwrecks.
"Advances in underwater technologies have ushered in a golden age of exploration and discovery, complementing the classic research and detective work skills necessary to find long-lost wrecks, and helping to make our marine heritage accessible to all. ‘As the technology develops, becoming cheaper and more reliable, the challenge for us archaeologists is to think of more creative and ambitious applications for it, … "
"Advances in underwater technologies have ushered in a golden age of exploration and discovery, complementing the classic research and detective work skills necessary to find long-lost wrecks, and helping to make our marine heritage accessible to all. ‘As the technology develops, becoming cheaper and more reliable, the challenge for us archaeologists is to think of more creative and ambitious applications for it, … "