Sinking ships for wreck diving sites
Explosives detonating to sink HMNZS Wellington (F69) in 2005
Sinking ships for wreck diving sites is the practice of scuttling old ships to produce artificial reefs suitable for wreck diving, to benefit from commercial revenues from recreational diving of the shipwreck, or to produce a diver training site.
Preparation
To prepare a hulk for sinking as a wreck site, several things must be done to make it safe for the marine environment and divers. To protect the environment, the ship is purged of all oils, hydraulic fluids, and dangerous chemicals such as PCBs. Much of the superstructure is removed to prevent the hazard of it eventually caving in from corrosion. Similarly, the interior of the ship is gutted of all structures that corrode quickly, and would be dangerous to divers if they came loose. The ship is thoroughly cleaned, often with the help of volunteers interested in diving. A significant part of the cost of preparing and sinking the ship comes from scrapping the contents of the ship, including valuable materials such as copper wiring. The hulk's suitability as a diving site is enhanced by cutting openings in its hull and interior bulkheads to allow divers access.
Sinking
The preparation phase removes a significant amount of weight, so the ship sits higher in the water than normal. The ship must be carefully weighed down by filling some sections with water as makeshift ballast tanks to prevent excessive rolling in port or during towing. The ship is towed to the sinking location, usually in shallow waters. The ship is scuttled using dynamite, in a controlled demolition. The holes are blown so that the heavier engine room and stern floods first, then the rest of the hull. The aim is to sink the ship in an upright position.
List of ships sunk for wreck diving
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
| Year | Vessel Name | Location | Country/territory |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Vis | Kamenjak, Istra | Croatia |
| 2015 | ARM Uribe (P121) | Rosarito Beach, Baja California | Mexico |
| 2015 | USS Comstock (LSD-19) | Checheng Township, Pingtung | Taiwan |
| 2015 | HMCS Annapolis (DDH 265) | British Columbia | Canada |
| 2014 | MV Ærøsund | South Fionan Sea | Denmark |
| 2014 | HTMS Kledkaeo (AKS-861) | Phi Phi Islands | Thailand |
| 2013 | Tug No. 2 | Sliema | Malta |
| 2013 | T11 Coastal Patrol Ship | Ko Chang | Thailand |
| 2013 | NRP Almeida Carvalho (A527) | Algarve | Portugal |
| 2013 | NRP Hermengildo Capelo (F481) | Algarve | Portugal |
| 2012 | USS Lincoln County (LST-898) | Ko Chang | Thailand |
| 2012 | NRP Zambeze (P1147) | Algarve | Portugal |
| 2012 | NRP Oliveira e Carmo (F489) | Algarve | Portugal |
| 2012 | HTMS Phetra (LCT-764) | Ko Man Nok | Thailand |
| 2012 | HTMS Mataphon (LCT-761) | Ko Larn | Thailand |
| 2012 | USCGC Mohawk (WPG-78) | Lee County, Florida | United States |
| 2011 | USS Arthur W. Radford (DD-968) | Cape May, New Jersey | United States |
| 2011 | HTMS Sattakut (LCI-742) | Koh Tao | Thailand |
| 2011 | HTMS Prab (LCI-741) | Chumphon | Thailand |
| 2011 | HMAS Adelaide (FFG 01) | Avoca Beach, New South Wales | Australia |
| 2011 | USS Kittiwake (ASR-13) | West Bay, Grand Cayman | Cayman Islands |
| 2009 | HMAS Canberra (FFG 02) | Barwon Heads, Victoria | Australia |
| 2009 | P31 patrol boat | Comino | Malta |
| 2009 | USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg (T-AGM-10)[1] | Key West, Florida | United States |
| 2007 | USS Cruise (AM-215) | Delaware Bay | United States |
| 2007 | HMNZS Canterbury (F421) | Bay of Islands | New Zealand |
| 2007 | USTS Texas Clipper | South Padre Island, Texas | United States |
| 2007 | P29 patrol boat[2] | Ċirkewwa | Malta |
| 2006 | MV Cominoland[2] | Gozo | Malta |
| 2006 | MV Karwela[2] | Gozo | Malta |
| 2006 | HTMS Kut (L-731) | Pattaya | Thailand |
| 2006 | USS Oriskany (CV-34) | Florida | United States |
| 2006 | Xihwu Boeing 737[3] | British Columbia | Canada |
| 2005 | HMNZS Wellington (F69) | Wellington | New Zealand |
| 2005 | HMAS Brisbane (D 41) | Mooloolaba, Queensland | Australia |
| 2004 | USCGC Spar (WLB-403) | Morehead City, North Carolina | United States |
| 2004 | HMS Scylla (F71) | Whitsand Bay, Cornwall | United Kingdom |
| 2003 | MV Camia 2 | Boracay island | Aklan |
| 2003 | CS Charles L Brown [4] | Sint Eustatius | Leeward Islands |
| 2003 | HMCS Nipigon (DDH 266) | Quebec | Canada |
| 2003 | USS Leonard F. Mason (DD-852) | Chaikou, Green Island | Taiwan |
| 2003 | HTMS Khram (L-732) | Ko Phai | Thailand |
| 2002 | MV Dania[5] | Mombasa | Kenya |
| 2002 | USS Spiegel Grove (LSD-32)[6] | Florida | United States |
| 2002 | HMAS Hobart (D 39) | Yankalilla Bay, South Australia | Australia |
| 2001 | HMAS Perth (D 38)[7] | Albany, Western Australia | Australia |
| 2001 | HMCS Cape Breton (ARE 100)[3] | British Columbia | Canada |
| 2001 | USS Jubilant (AM-255) | Veracruz | Mexico |
| 2000 | HMNZS Waikato (F55) | Tutukaka | New Zealand |
| 2000 | USS Knave (AM-256) | Puerto Morales | Mexico |
| 2000 | USS Fort Marion (LSD-22) | HaiTzuKuo, Xiaoliuqiu | Taiwan |
| 2000 | HMCS Yukon (DDE 263)[3] | San Diego, California | United States |
| 2000 | Stanegarth | Stoney Cove | United Kingdom |
| 1999 | MV Imperial Eagle[8] | Qawra | Malta |
| 1999 | USS Scuffle (AM-298) | Cozumel | Mexico |
| 1999 | HMNZS Tui (1970) | Tutukaka Heads | New Zealand |
| 1999 | MV Xlendi[9] | Gozo | Malta |
| 1998 | MV Adolphus Busch | Looe Key, Florida | United States |
| 1998 | Um El Faroud[2] | Qrendi | Malta |
| 1998 | St. Michael | Marsaskala | Malta |
| 1998 | Tug No. 10 | Marsaskala | Malta |
| 1997 | HMCS Saskatchewan (DDE 262)[3] | British Columbia | Canada |
| 1997 | HMAS Swan (DE 50)[10] | Dunsborough, Western Australia | Australia |
| 1996 | HMCS Columbia (DDE 260)[3] | British Columbia | Canada |
| 1996 | MV Captain Keith Tibbetts (formerly Russian-built Frigate 356) | Cayman Brac | Cayman Islands |
| 1996 | Inganess Bay[11] | British Virgin Islands | |
| 1995 | HMCS Mackenzie (DDE 261)[3] | British Columbia | Canada |
| 1995 | MV Jean Escutia | Puerto Morelos | Mexico |
| 1994 | HMAS Derwent (DE 49) | Rottnest Island | Australia |
| 1994 | HMS Pelorus (J291) | Miller's Point, Western Cape | South Africa |
| 1994 | HMCS Saguenay (DDH 206) | Nova Scotia | Canada |
| 1992 | HMCS Chaudière (DDE 235)[3] | British Columbia | Canada |
| 1992 | USS Indra (ARL-37) | North Carolina | United States |
| 1992 | MV Rozi[2] | Ċirkewwa | Malta |
| 1991 | USS Algol (AKA-54) | New Jersey | United States |
| 1991–2001 | "Wreck Alley" – The Marie L, The Pat and The Beata[12] | British Virgin Islands | |
| 1991 | MV G.B. Church[3] | British Columbia | Canada |
| 1990 | Fontao | Durban | South Africa |
| 1990 | USCG Hollyhock | Florida | United States |
| 1990 | T-Barge | Durban | South Africa |
| 1990 | USS Chippewa (AT-69) | Destin, Florida | United States |
| 1990 | USS Yancey (AKA-93) | Morehead City, North Carolina | United States |
| 1989 | YO-257 | Oahu, Hawaii | United States |
| 1989 | USS Blenny (SS-324) | Ocean City, Maryland | United States |
| 1989 | USS Muliphen (AKA-61) | Port St. Lucie, Florida | United States |
| 1988 | USS Aeolus (ARC-3) | North Carolina | United States |
| 1988 | USS Rankin (AKA-103) | Stuart, Florida | United States |
| 1988 | USCGC Unimak (WAVP-379) | Virginia | United States |
| 1988 | USS Vermilion (AKA-107) | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | United States |
| 1987–2000 | Wreck Alley | San Diego, California | United States |
| 1987 | USCGC Bibb (WPG-31)[13] | Florida | United States |
| 1987 | USCGC Duane (WPG-33)[13] | Florida | United States |
| 1987 | Rainbow Warrior[14] | Matauri Bay | New Zealand |
| 1987 | USS Strength (AM-309) | Panama City, Florida | United States |
| 1987 | USS Accokeek (ATA-181) | Gulf of Mexico | United States |
| 1985 | Eagle | Florida | United States |
| 1983 | USS Curb (ARS-21) | Key West, Florida | United States |
| 1982 | MS Logna | Grand Bahama Island | Bahamas |
| 1982 | USS Scrimmage (AM-297) | Waianae, Hawaii | United States |
| 1980 | USS Mindanao (ARG-3) | Daytona Beach, Florida | United States |
| 1980 | USS Harlequin (C-58) | Isla Mujeres | Mexico |
| 1980 | Oro Verde[15] | Cayman Islands | |
| 1978 | USS Dionysus (AR-21) | North Carolina | United States |
| 1975 | USS Mona Island (ARG-9) | Wachapreague, Virginia | United States |
| 1974 | SS Theodore Parker | North Carolina | United States |
| 1972 | USS Fred T. Berry (DD-858) | Key West, Florida | United States |
| 1970 | Mohawk (YT-17) | Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina | United States |
| 1970 | Glen Strathallen | Plymouth Sound | United Kingdom |
| 1968 | USS Mizpah (PY-29) | Palm Beach, Florida | United States |
See also
- Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia
- Rigs-to-Reefs
- Archaeology of shipwrecks
- Diver training
- List of shipwrecks
- List of wreck diving sites
- Wreck Alley
References
- ↑ "Vandenberg sinking this morning". MSNBC. Associated Press. 2009-05-27. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Diving the wrecks off Malta and Gozo's Coastline.". Paradise Diving Malta. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "ARSBC". Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
- ↑ "Charlie Brown Artificial Reef". Golden Rock Dive Center. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ↑ "5 Star PADI IDC Centre, Kenya, Zanzibar". Buccaneer Diving. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
- ↑ "The ''Spiegel Grove'' is believed to be the largest ever wreck deliberately sunk as a diving site". Fla-keys.com. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
- ↑ "HMAS Perth (II) - Royal Australian Navy". Navy.gov.au. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
- ↑ "MV Imperial Eagle & Kristu l-Bahhar". Subway Dive Centre. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
- ↑ "Top wrecks of Malta & Gozo". John Liddiard. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
- ↑ "HMAS Swan (III) - Royal Australian Navy". Navy.gov.au. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
- ↑ "BVI Dive Site: Wreck of the Inganess Bay". Bvidiving.com. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
- ↑ "Cooper Island". Dive BVI. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
- 1 2 Williams, Chris; Bowen, Linda (2008). "Wrecks of the Duane and Bibb" (PDF). Advanced Diver Magazine Ezine (1, reprinted from ADM issue 4): 62–72. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
- ↑ The Bombing of the Rainbow Warrior
- ↑ "The Cayman Islands Shipwreck Expo Directory Capt. Dan Berg's Guide to Shipwrecks information". Aquaexplorers.com. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
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