The Andrea Doria Mount Everest of Diving
Joel D. Silverstein Scuba Training and Technology Inc. Tech Diving Limited 2 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Why The Andrea Doria? • Discuss the History of the Andrea Doria • The Sinking and History • The Dives • Preparing for Expeditions • Diving the wreck • The fatalities • The artifacts • Deterioration of the Wreck 3 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Doria History • Built by Ansaldo Shipyards, Siestri, Italy 1950 • 700.0 feet long - 90 feet wide Luxury Liner • Owned by: • “Italia” Societa per Azioni di Navigatione • The Italia Line • 1,241 passengers of which 218 were first class. • Crew of 575 • Cruising speed of 23 knots
4 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Timetable of Events • 1950 Feb - Andrea Doria keel laid • 1953 January Maiden Voyage • 1956 July 25 - Collides with Stockholm • July 26 - 10:09 am Andrea Doria Sinks • July 27 - Gimble and Fox dive for LIFE • 1967 – first recreational trip • John Dudas, Evelyn Bartram, Mike DeCamp • 1968 - Valati Expedition • 1973 Saturation Systems 5 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. The Collision
It was Wednesday, July 25th 1956. At 11:10pm on a dark and foggy night, two great ocean liners, Andrea Doria and MV Stockholm, collide near Nantucket, Massachusetts
6 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. The Sinking
Sinking began at 9:45 AM and took 11 hours to complete
News report by Douglas Edwards CBS News NY
7 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Greatest Sea Rescue • 51 people died in the accident -- five crew members of the Stockholm and 46 passengers of the Andrea Doria.
• 43 died instantly when their cabins were obliterated.
• All the passengers who were alive after the collision were saved. Peter Gimble July 27, 1956
9 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Timetable of Events cont. • 1981 - Gimbel locating the safe • 1981 first fatality • 1985 Gentile/Moyer/Nagle find stern bell • 1985 Ormsby fatality • 1993 Moyer Expedition – art recovery • 1998-99 5 fatalities • 2000 “The Italian” expedition • 2006 50th Anniversary Expeditions • 2010 – Silverstein/Sutton – Bridge Bell Found.
10 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Diving the Andrea Doria • Off-shore 75 to 100 miles from port • In the middle of the shipping lanes • Sometimes treacherous conditions • Heavy Fog • 175 fsw to the top • 245 fsw to the sand • 255 fsw inside • Static Anchor
11 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Nowhere to Run
12 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Mount Everest of Dives • Not more than 1,000 divers have visited her • Less than 50 have more than 100 dives • Less than 50 have more than 4 dives • Only 44 women have dived the site. • Visit window is from June 15 - Aug 15 • though it can be later weather permitting • They come from all over the world • One of the five greatest passenger liner disasters
13 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Lusitania Titanic Empress Britannic A. Doria Service Career 9/7/07- 4/10/12- 6/29/06- 12/23/15- 6/14/53- 5/7/15 4/15/12 5/29/14 11/21/16 7/26/56 Length (ft) 780 882.75 548.9 903 697 Breadth (ft) 87.8 92 65 94 90 Displacement 30,396 46,239 14,191 48,158 29,100 (gross tons)
Svc. Speed 25 21 20 21 23 (knots) Max. Capacity, 2,198 3,547 1,860 3,525 1,730
Passengers/Cr 1,959 2,228 1,492 1,066 1,706 ew, Final Voyage
Lives Lost 1,198 1,523 1,014 30 46
Depth Sunk 295 12,460 150 395 235
14 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Pre-trip preparation
• Boat • Crew • Equipment • Breathing Gas • Provisions • Divers
15 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. The Deck Plans
16 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 17 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 18 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. When she sank……
145 fsw 700 feet
235 fsw
19 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. State of Wreck in 2000
20 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Current state
21 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Technical Diving •The use of special techniques, tools and equipment to explore beyond traditional scuba depth and time limits. •Wreck and cave exploration in 150 to 350 fsw depth range using helium based gas mixes. •Began in late 1980’s
Fully dressed trimix diver 22 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Equipment and Gas
•1980s •1990’s •Now •Twin 80’s air •Twin 120’s •Trimix / EAN / •oxygen deco trimix oxygen deco •15-20 min •EAN / oxygen •20-40 min bottom time deco bottom time •mind numbing •20-40 min •no-narcosis narcosis bottom time •no-narcosis •Rebreathers •Open Circuit
23 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 24 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. The 1985 Bell
25 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Moyer Expedition • 1993 - July - R/V Wahoo • Maritime arrest to preserve project • Goal - to recover the bow bell • Air lift suspected room • Result - recovered ceramic panels • Bell was not found • 20 diver team working for 7 days • All Volunteer - not a commercial job
26 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 27 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 28 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Gambone panels 220 fsw
29 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 30 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 31 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Technological Problems
• Moyer Expedition • No chamber • 3 minor bends cases • Chemical burns • No-surface to bottom communications • Too much air diving
32 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. The Fatalities - 13 deaths •John Barnett 1981 •Bob Santulli 1993 •Sea Hunter •Sea Hunter •Frank Kennedy 1983 •Vince Napoliello 1998 Seeker •Wahoo •Craig Sicola 1998 •John Ormsby 1985 •Seeker •Wahoo •Richard Roost 1998 •Joe Drozd 1988 •Seeker •Seeker •Matthew Lawrence •Christopher Murley 1999 1992 • Seeker • Seeker •Charlie McGurr 1999 •Mike Scofield 1992 •Seeker •Seeker •David Bright 2006 33 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. •Selene John Ormsby 1985 •First Doria Dives •First Cold Water Dives •Had deep air experience •Wilkes Barre & Caves •Hot-shot •Left his team
•Note this is long before modern day technical diving
34 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Entanglement •Got entangled in the wreck •Was unable to free himself •Recovery divers used bolt cutters •John’s death lead to the development of more streamlined equipment and mixed gas scuba techniques by Billy Deans.
35 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 13 months -- 5 fatalities - •1998 •1999 •Vince Napoliello •Christopher Murley •Out of gas - stages full •Heart attack •Craig Sicola •Charlie McGurr •Out of gas / OxTox ? •CO2 - left the team •Richard Roost •Out of gas - stages full
36 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 37 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. •Solo Dive •100 foot penetration •225 fsw •Sends up artifacts •Float to surface DOA
38 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Gimbel’s Hole
39 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 40 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 41 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 42 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Over the Boat Deck
43 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 44 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Inside Promenade
this area gone
45 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 46 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Current Diver Problems
• Little Experience • Some have less than 200 dives • Many don’t appreciate the risks • Many don’t understand the conditions • Too many use the site for training • Part of their trimix “check-out” dives • The Greed factor • Artifact is badge of accomplishment
47 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. The Artifacts
•China •Crystal •Silver •Ceramic •Gift Shop •Artwork •Images
48 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. • The bulk of the artifacts came up between 1980 and 2000.
• Now the ship is breaking apart and new areas are accessed making finding artifacts a little easier but with more skill needed 50 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Claim Jumping
51 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 52 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 53 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 54 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. The “G – Team”
Gary Gentile Gary Gilligan
55 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 56 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 57 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 58 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. New pattern
59 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 60 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Tonnage
61 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 62 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 63 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 64 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 65 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Deterioration
66 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Previous state
67 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Current state
68 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 69 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Current state
70 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 71 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 72 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 50th Dive
• 2006
73 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 74 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 75 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 2010 Expedition
• My 18th year diving the wreck. • Private charter for 4 clients • 3 from California • 1 from Arizona • New boat – R/V Explorer • up-scale trip • Top crew: Capt. Dave Sutton, Historian Gary Gentile, and me. • Collectively over 300 dives experience on the Andrea Doria • New Crew: Ric Simon, Ernie Rookey • Top Clients: Laila Richard, Chris Gini, Kathy Mallon, and last minute jump on, Carl Bayer – all mix trained and prepared Preparation
• Cali Crew – prepared for 6 months for the dive. Working every hard and nasty dive they could in California • Carl Bayer – NJ diver who loves to dig in the mud and look for artifacts.
First Dives ! 190 fsw
210 fsw
240 fsw • On Day one we had: • Flat seas • 40 foot visibility • sucessfully put 5 new divers on • 2 more women # 44 and #45 • Evelyn Dudas # 1 1967 • Kathy Weydig # 24 1995 Overnight .... Day 2 • Cali Team 1st • Carl & Ernie 2nd • Gary & Ric 3rd • Joel... last. Oooh A Bell ! • Carl & Ernie 2nd
190 fsw
210 fsw
240 fsw “ The Bell Boys” The Bridge Bell
• Long forgotten ... • Was found sticking out of sand in 240 fsw • Weighs 75 lbs • 16” x 16” • in conservation now
8 Bells .... Change of Watch
The Future ? • More fatalities - probably • Technology • More rebreathers are being used Artifacts - more to find • 2011 charters at a premium
93 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 94 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. What’s it take to dive the Doria ?
• Desire • Skills • Equipment • Perseverance • Cash • Training
95 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. • wahoo.org More information • Techdivinglimited.com • AndreaDoria.org
96 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. Special Thanks To: •Capt. Steve Bielenda •Capt. Gary Gilligan •Capt. Janet Bieser •Kevin McMurray •RV Wahoo •Rob Stevenson •Capt. Dan Crowell •Capt. Kathy Weydig •Capt. John Moyer •MV Seeker •Gary Gentile •Capt. Billy Deans •Pat Rooney •Capt. Joe Terzuolli •RV John Jack •Capt. Dave Sutton •And… Tony Maffatone •RV Explorer •Barb Lander 97 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc. 98 J. Silverstein 2004, 2005, 2006 ST+T Inc.