Shipwreck Central - Live Dive Blog

Posted by administrator at 04:18 PM | Comments (0)

Its ok!!!!! Everyone stay palm! (tree)

Hi out there,

Yesterday Mike and Warren attempted their first dive on the Queen of Nassau, but there was a really bad current so the dive was aborted. Mike told me that had they jumped in and got to the bottom, they would have flown past the wreck so fast that there would be no usable footage. Unusable footage does not make good t.v. shows. That's what these guys are constantly facing, can we get the shot?

So I'm holed up in the condo today, editing clips for Shipwreck Central while Christine follows the Seahunters on their first dive to the Queen of Nassau. Tomorrow there should be clips from her.

If any of you have questions, comments, hate mail, praise for any of the Seahunters crew, or love letters to the Fletchers send them into Shipwreck Central. The good people of SWC will send them to me on the road and I'll get the appropriate character to answer. Or we could shoot a video clip about your specific question.

Here's the crew:

Mike Fletcher - diver / underwater camera / director
Warren Fletcher - diver / underwater camera
Jim Delgado - archaeologist
Marc Pike - director of photography
John Rosborough - audio and cameraman
Christine Barker - host of SWC
Chris Kingston - SWC cameraman and editor and Seahunters editor

...and on that note I'll end with a quote:

"I have no taste for either poverty or honest labour, so writing is the only recourse left for me"
-Hunter S. Thompson ( 1938-2005 )

Posted by Christine Barker at 01:01 PM | Comments (1)

Day Three Recap

Christine recaps the day's Shipwreck Central adventures with Jim Delgado from NURC headquarters in Key Largo.

More video later.

Posted by administrator at 09:38 AM | Comments (0)

February 25, 2005

Day Two - The suspense is killing us

When we last left them Mike and Warren Fletcher were being evaluated by Doug Kesling, in preparation for the dive on the Queen of Nassau.

Maybe we'll just let Doug say it...

Posted by administrator at 07:09 PM | Comments (0)

This just in...

In between new video posts here are some photo's of Christine's first day in Key West. Hey Christine, did your luggage arrive?
Launch photo journal >>

Posted by victoria at 01:55 PM | Comments (0)

Christine vs Aquarius

Hello Everyone

Right now it's 8:30 am. Christine, Jim Delgado and the film crew are diving down to the Aquarius habitat to scout out the location, do some interviews and tell the tale of Shipwreck Central going underwater for the first time.

At this moment they are prepping their gear, which is why you are hearing from me, SWC cameraman and MAT: Chris. Not a whole lot going on other than that. But check in later today to find out who won in the clash of the titans: Christine vs Aquarius.

Bye for now

Chris

Posted by Christine Barker at 10:39 AM | Comments (0)

Day One in Key Largo. Come along with us, Live from the Dive Shop

As you've seen Christine Barker arrived tonight, along with the Sea Hunter camera and sound team extraordinaire, Marc Pike and John Rossborough. Jim Delgado flew in from Vancouver later in this evening.

For the last two days, as you know if you are returning to our adventure, Mike and Warren Fletcher have been going through tests with NOAA, getting certified for diving with them. They are in a remarkable place, truly a divers paradise, but more on that in the coming weeks with Christine and Chris.

Thanks to SWC cameraman/editor/MAT Chris Kingston who was able to shoot and edit all of these videos for us today. A tip of the respirator to you, laddy. Now into the decompression chamber with you until the morning. Day two is coming up quick.

Until we have our shiny new media player window ready for you in a few days, there's probably no better way to present them for you than in a simple chronological sequence. So please come along with us as we get ready to dive.

Let's get to the video, already. Divers down.

DAY ONE: 1) The Sea Hunters meet up with Doug Kesling the Training and Safety Coordinator for NURC/UNCW.

Posted by administrator at 05:17 AM | Comments (0)

The Sea Hunters are live and in the house...

The Sea Hunters are together again. Well, they're waiting for Jim, and soundman/cameraman/godsgift JohnR is in the shower, but they're ready to embark on the next adventure.

We're pumped about this one. Perfect weather, high-speed internet in the apartment, and some very cool dives coming up, including a visit to Aquarius, the amazing underwater habitat. NURC, NOAA, NUMA, and a whole pile of other acronyms. Will Dirk Pitt show up to dive? Stay tuned. Video cameras galore, an editor on site, and video iChat for quick hits.

Left click on the file to download it. Know any diving buddies? Send it on by email. This is where it is happening. Remember you can subscribe to our RSS feed to catch all the latest updates. Dive with us into the future.

We proudly kick off:

Much more to come from now until March 4. Get ready, it's going to be a gas, literally.

(Right click here to download sharable file.)

Posted by administrator at 04:54 AM | Comments (0)

February 24, 2005

The sea that made me sick

Hello everyone,

I'm writing today to relate the terrible story of your beloved Shipwreck central cameraman becoming seasick. The Seahunters were doing test dives yesterday and I went along to film the clips that you will soon be watching on your computer. The water was green blue and it was a great day for diving. We got to the site and got the boat moored up and that's when this terrible saga began.

The boat was rocking side to side and I was shooting Mike and Warren getting ready. Started to feel a little weird but nothing out of the ordinary. I haven't spent a lot of time on boats. In fact the Seahunters trip to Chile to dive Doterel was my first real voyage on a boat for any length of time. Anyway, as the minutes passed, it kept getting worse. My big mistake was trying NOT to be sick. It only prolonged my agony. The boat was rocking, the sun was blasting down and all I could smell was the diesel fumes of the boat exhaust. Then the moment of truth. It happened. All over the side of the boat. Thankfully the good people at NOAA / NURC are prepared for such incidents and it was washed off quickly by their hose.

Later Mike told me that when he is feeling ill, which happens from time to time in REALLY rough weather, he just lets it fly. Then you feel better right away. Good advice.
It was a humbling experience to say the least. I'd hoped that I would have made it several trips before I got sick. I went through the Straits of Magellan and was ok but Florida got me.

Today Mike and Warren have gone out to do more work up dives. I'm here editing clips for Shipwreck Central. They will be back later this afternoon with word on how it all went. Also Christine and the rest of the film crew will be driving in from Miami so you will start to hear from her in the near future. That's it for now. Keep your eyes on the horizon and a hose at the ready and your days of sailing will be as enjoyable as mine.

Chris

Posted by Christine Barker at 02:05 PM | Comments (0)

February 23, 2005

Florida: end of day one

Hello everyone,

It's Chris again. In the absence of Christine for these first few days, I'll be writing in about what is going on with the Seahunters in Florida. This afternoon Mike and Warren went out for the first of a two day evaluation of their skills by NURC. We cruised out of our backyard dock around 11:00 am and set out on a 15 min run to the wreck of Spiegel Grove. This morning I wrote that they were doing test dives on Queen of Nassau and was mistaken.

The boys geared up and the dives got underway sometime around 12:00. They completed the first series close to 5:00pm and are going to finish up the work up dives tomorrow. So far, so good for the Seahunters.

The work up or evaluation dives are done by NURC so that they can see the skill level of divers. The wreck of the Queen of Nassau is in around 240 feet. More than enough water to get yourself killed in if you don't know what you are doing. This makes it safer for everyone.

Posted by Christine Barker at 10:19 PM | Comments (0)

Greetings from Florida

This is Chris, Shipwreck Central cameraman and MAT.

We arrived in Key Largo yesterday and met most of the NURC people we are going to be working with. This Morning Mike and Warren are in the NURC dive shop and are putting together their dive gear for the first of several test dives on the Queen of Nassau. There's a lot of equipment to be put together and tested. We will be running out to the site in a small boat called “Research Diver” it“s a cool boat. The Fletchers are going through dive tests because NURC has a strict set of rules for their divers, and because we are working with them we need to be aware of them. It's pretty cool stuff to see. The dive tanks look like Octopus's with up to three regulators on one tank.

We are staying in a condo owned by NURC. Very nice digs. Palm trees are everywhere and the dock for the dive boats is literally in the backyard. The dive shop I mentioned earlier is on the main floor, just under where we are staying.

Florida will make for a cool Seahunters adventure. Christine. Jim Delgado and the rest of the Seahunters film crew will arrive tomorrow.
We are about to go out on the first test dive so I gotta run. Keep posted for the clips of Mike and Warren's first morning in Key largo.

Posted by Christine Barker at 02:00 PM | Comments (0)

February 22, 2005

Sea Hunters Out

The dive team and film crew should be arriving in Florida at any time, so if you were going to try to see them at the airport you probably missed them. We are waiting to see if Christine's luggage will arrive. Stay with Live from the Dive to find out about NURC, HMCS Canada/Queen of Nassau and all the adventure Florida has to offer our Christine Barker.

Posted by victoria at 08:34 AM | Comments (0)

February 16, 2005

Episode 2: Halifax- Still No Luggage

Christine Barker arrived in Halifax last night and like all her Shipwreck Central related arrivals her luggage was no where to be found. Stay tuned...

Posted by victoria at 10:38 AM | Comments (1)

February 15, 2005

New Episode: The Wreck of Arturo Prat's "Esmeralda"

Airing on History Television Sunday, February 20 at 7:00 AM | 6:00 PM ET check local listings

When the Japanese Imperial Navy wanted an example of proper action for officers under fire in a naval engagement they chose the Chilean naval vessel “Esmeralda” and her captain, Arturo Prat, as the model to be studied by all officers graduating from the Japanese Naval Academy.

Mike Fletcher and “The Sea Hunters” team are invited back to Chile in order to assist German government archaeologists in the retrieval of artifacts from the German light cruiser “Dresden” which was lost during WWI off Robinson Crusoe Island in Chilean waters. During the trip the team is invited, by the Chilean Embassy, to dive and film the wreck site of Chile’s most famous naval vessel “Esmeralda”. After leaving Robinson Crusoe Island, the team, along with Chilean navy divers, travel over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) North to the site of the Battle of Iquique to search for the final resting place of “Esmeralda”. The first dive shows that the wreckage presents a vivid illustration of the horror of that battle. The broken hull of “Esmeralda,” her cannons lying quiet on the ocean floor and the skeletal remains of many of her brave crew all tell a graphic tale of the of the horror of battle and the cost of war.

For more information on the Esmeralda find her Vessel Profile on the Interactive Map

Posted by victoria at 08:10 AM | Comments (0)

February 11, 2005

Sea Hunter Suits Up

If you liked the images in the last post take then a look at this video of the divers, down in Chile, trying to get their gear ready and in the water.

Posted by victoria at 02:32 PM | Comments (0)

Suited Up

As the last Sea Hunter arrives home from Chile, more images and video start to appear on SWC. The images below show Mike Fletcher suited up in his dive gear, including a helmet and Doxa watch. Stay tuned for more.

Posted by victoria at 01:00 PM | Comments (0)

The Search for the Early Submarines

Airing on History Television Sunday, February 13 at 7:00 AM | 6:00 PM ET check local listings

The Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood was founded in 1858 and was known as the “Fenian Brotherhood”. This militantly anti-British group waged a propaganda war in the U.S. for Irish Independence and collected money in a “Skirmishing Fund” intended to support armed activities against British interests. John Holland’s brother James was a member of the “Fenians”, it was through James that the “Fenians” learned of John Holland’s work with submarines. When they approached him he offered to build a submersible warship that could attack and sink British Naval vessels. Holland started his work in1878 and by June of 1881 he had a working 31 ft. submersible that could dive to 50 ft., travel at a surface speed of 9 knots and shoot a dummy warhead from a pneumatic gun to a distance of several hundred yards. His sub was now a formidable new weapon with the potential to inflict heavy damage on the British navy. Concurrent to his work on the “Fenian Ram” Holland was also constructing a 16 ft., 1 ton model with which he intended to perfect his technical designs for submerged navigation. This fully working model submarine embodied all of Holland’s latest and most functional dive and steering mechanisms.

Holland’s steady progress in improving the “Fenian Ram” came to an abrupt halt in November 1883. Segments of the “Brotherhood’s” membership locked in a bitter and divisive struggle over the “Ram’s” potential for actually harming British vessels and over the expenditures being made from the “Skirmish Fund”. Late one night in November, fearing that the “Ram” would be seized in the ongoing legal proceedings, one of the warring factions gained access to Holland’s wharf and stole the “Fenian Ram” and Model #3. They took both vessels in tow but just after passing under the Whitestone Bridge, at the Mouth of the East River, “Model #3 foundered, took on water, snapped her tow line and sunk in 110 ft. of water.
The “Sea Hunters”, working with Dr. Pete Capelloti, Chief Historian, U.S. Coast Guard, gain permission to side scan and dive on the South end of Manhattan Island, between the Whitestone and Throg’s Neck Bridges. They will search for the lost Holland designed “Model #3”. The Sea Hunters will first undertake a side scan sonar survey and then dive and ground truth targets located in the search area. The side scan and dive footage will by turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard and to the newly formed “Office of Homeland Security”. With the New York City skyline in the background the “Sea Hunters” dive team will search for this historic submarine while collecting underwater data which will be used to make New York safer from the threat of terrorist attack.

Posted by victoria at 09:10 AM | Comments (0)

February 04, 2005

The Sea Hunters Season Premiere

The Search for the Avro Arrow Flight Models

Join “The Sea Hunters” as they dive under the cold waters of Lake Ontario, at the Picton Test Range, and off the coast of Virginia to search for exact replicas, reduced in size, of a plane that was the fastest fighter of its day. Launched by Nike Missiles, these models were propelled at supersonic speeds for test purposes and never recovered. Working with the National Aeronautics Museum in Canada, and the Chief Historian for the U.S. Coast Guard in the United States “The Sea Hunters” will dive both sites and search for the last remnants of the fastest plane that was never built and in the process tell a story of espionage, subterfuge and assassination that starts under the cold waters of the Atlantic and Great Lakes and moves to Bermuda, South Africa, Holland and Iraq.

Airing on History Television Sunday, February 6 at 7:00 AM | 6:00 PM ET check local listings

Posted by victoria at 06:41 PM | Comments (1)

February 01, 2005

On the way home

Lan Chile is trying to killllll me, I'm convinced of it. Can you spell c-o-n-s-p-i-r-a-c-y? I felt like they were trying to punish me! Did you guys win my ticket in one of those vending machine games?

So we all flew to Santiago from Punta Arenas yesterday together, and as my connecting flight was late I bade a sad farewell to everyone early. On a lark, our local friend and translator Caroline (sp?) and I decided to check the bowels of the Santiago airport for my luggage. Lo and behold, in the tangle of a mess of orphaned luggage there was my bag. Sad, beaten, torn and bruised, but otherwise intact. The good news is, whoever molested my bag left the film equipment alone! Unhappily though, some of my stuff is gone. It was obvious when I opened it up and my new jacket was conspicuously absent...I put it on top so I could access it quickly. Shoes too...I'll take inventory when I'm a little more coherent. They have good taste, those thieves. I then had to rush back to check in and try to explain how I had suddenly acquired luggage and had to check in again. That was good fun.

Didn't matter though, as the flight to NY was delayed three hours last night. Then when we boarded the plane the lights kept cutting out as the plane kept losing power. Niiiiiiiice, I thought. I had spotted Rodrigo in the airport (he was obvious as the one with the pilot's cap on), so I was watching to see if he stayed on the plane. We had a stopover in Peru to refuel, and in what could only be explained as a suspicious evacuation, we were all boarded onto a bus in the wee hours of the morning as rumors spread of 'something wrong with the plane' or a 'security problem' mumble mumble mumble. There were no announcements, just rumors of being flown to Dallas, waiting in the airport 8 hours for the next plane...terrorist ramblings, the usual. Then suddenly, they announce that we're to board the same plane again. I am beginning to understand the clapping ritual at the end of a flight.

So at about 4 am I'm apprehensively settling back into my same window seat hoping this plane will take me closer to home.

Okay, gotta go for now....fading fast!
ciao

Posted by Christine Barker at 11:02 AM | Comments (0)