Priceless ScubaH2Omag.com March 2017 • Issue 3

NORTH TOBERMORY SPECTACULAR CAROLINA FRESHWATER NANAIMO DIVE INTO CAPITAL OF THE BRITISH HISTORY WORLD COLUMBIA CONTENT

SE North Carolina Artifcial Reef 6 North Carolina - Diving into History 10 March 8 LIDA Film Festival Recap 14 MADNESS NE Ocean Wreck Divers Flea Market 18 As March arrives I fnd myself Tobermory Adventure 20 looking out the window as I move Beaneath the Sea Honors 24 20 closer to the heater and think Chicago Show Recap 30 fondly of the coming spring and the Lake Ontario Wreck Diving 32 warmer weather ahead. This past month has been event flled as the MW dive industry prepares for the coming season by hosting regional dive shows across the country: Texas, Chicago, Boston, Ohio, and 32 Wisconsin all celebrated diving last month.

WSA Promtes New Dive Sites 38 For the past month my life has been flled with traveling to dive NW H2O Show Seminars 40 shows and celebrating new life and the arrival of spring with the Nanaimo British Columbia Jewel 42 birth of baby lambs on the farm. Most days and nights are flled with bottles, towels, and warm heat lamps in a barn. Nothings 42 say spring like a baby lamb looking for her mother in the early Force Blue Inspires Vets 48 morning hours! Diving Balmorhea Springs TX 56 SW The Kitty Wake Connection 60 As we usher in the baby lambs and attend dive shows, DNN staf worked hard on this month’s edition fnding great stories from 54 all across North America to people in, on, and under the water.

DAN - Buoyancy Skills 62 In our Southeast, the regional news story covers the sinking of Alec’s Tech Tips 64 two new shipwrecks in North Carolina. The folks at the Eastern Basic Skills - Advanced Dives 66 Carolina Artifcial Reef Association (ECARA) are celebrating 10 years of creating sustainable underwater habitats and dive 64 attractions by sinking two new reefs in 2017. The frst wreck will be sunk in April and the second later this summer. Learn more Critter Corner 69 about their mission on page 6. Gear Check 70 Directories 72 Our Southeast destination features the incredible scuba diving in the great state of North Carolina. For those who think of North 69 Carolina as the Graveyard of the Atlantic, that would only be partially correct. Depending on the time of year and the currents, these waters rival anything that the Caribbean has to ofer. ABOUT THE COVER: Moreover, this year marks the 75 year anniversary of the Battle Outstanding photo by SCUBA & H2O Adventure is of the Atlantic – ready this story and fnd out why North Carolina Jennifer Idol is a must dive state. published monthly by the of Ben Castro in Dive News Network Media Group at Balmorhea Springs, Texas In our Northwest regional news section, correspondent Gary PO Box 1494, Oak Harbor, WA 98277. Lehman reports on the recent LIDA (Long Island Dive Association) The Dive News Network Media Film Festival, held mid January in NYC. Gary and his pals at the Group reserves the right to refuse Publisher: Rick Stratton Scuba Sports Club enjoyed the evening and presentations by the service to anyone it chooses. [email protected] many world-class speakers. Great job to LIDA and all those who © 2015-2017 Dive News Network Managing Editor: John Tapley attended the evening festivities and won the incredible door prizes donated by the many attending dive businesses. Mark Media Group. All rights reserved. [email protected] your calendars for next year – more on page 14. Editor-at-Large: Important notice: The contents of SCUBA & H2O Adventure are opinions of Jennifer Idol Galivanting across the state to nearby New Jersey, Gary worked individual writers and do not necessarily Regional Correspondents with his pal Pat Considine to cover the annual Ocean Wreck refect the views of the publisher, editor Diver’s Flea Market and Swap Meet. Held on Feb 19 in Tom’s or any of its staf. The publishers and Gene Muchanski - SE contributors assume no responsibility for River, New Jersey, the event was attended by local divers, dive any mishap claimed to the a result of use Rick Knight - SW of this material. Adventure sports contain clubs and dive shops to bring camaraderie to the east coast dive inherent risks. Improper use of equipment Editor: Selene Muldowney community. Hats of to all who attended and supported the or improper techniques may result in serious injury or death. Readers are [email protected] worthwhile event. Read their story on page 18. advised to use their own best judgement in each individual situation. Advertising Sales: Rick Stratton In our Northeast destination we feature one of the best diving We encourage readers to participate [email protected] areas in the Great Lakes – the beautiful Tobermory in the Bruce in determining the content of this publication by giving us their opinions Circulation/Subscriptions: Peninsula of Ontario. Located 200 miles Northwest of Toronto, on the types of articles they would like Tobermory is recognized as the freshwater scuba capital of the to see. We invite letters to the editor, 360.639-8205 world. Here divers can dive on shipwrecks that sank more than manuscripts and photographs related to For more info, please visit diving or dive-related business. Send us 100 years ago and yet they look like they are ready to sail again. your stories and photos! www.scubaH2Omag.com 4 SCUBAH2OMAG.COM EXOTIC DESTINATIONS Te Kittiwake Connection

Article by Michael Salvarezza, photos by Divers who visit the Kittiwake today find often fully appreciated by those swimming Christopher P. Weaver a mesmerizing wreck sitting upright on through her now watery corridors. a white, sandy bottom only a short boat t took a while to sink the USS Kittiwake. ride from the resorts along Seven Mile To start, in the early days of the Kittiwake’s Ten years, and twenty minutes in Beach. The ship is resting in 62 feet of career she primarily accompanied I fact. But on January 5, 2011, the USS water, making her an ideal spot for divers during their sea trials and Kittiwake (ASR-13), a chanticleer-class of all certification levels. The top of the maneuvers to monitor diving operations, rescue vessel that was launched wreck is within seven feet of the surface, practice underwater rescue procedures on July 10, 1945 and decommissioned on and can be enjoyed by snorkelers and and recovered practice torpedoes. September 30, 1994, began the next phase divers alike. of her long and distinguished career as an Notably, in her fourth year in 1949 she artifcial reef of the northern end of Seven It is a terrifc wreck for divers wishing to provided the divers and equipment used Mile Beach on Grand Cayman Island. On explore its photogenic superstructure during salvage operations to free the that day, after three long hours of waiting in and its many exciting passageways. Open Missouri from the tidal banks of the warm Caribbean sun after the process hatch doors, left over decompression Thimble Shoals, Virginia, where she had run of sinking the ship started, the hull fnally chambers, ghostly staircases and various aground. began to fll with water and the throngs winches and other equipment all serve of onlookers began to cheer loudly as the to capture the imagination of divers In the 1950s, the Kittiwake cruised up and ship slowly dipped beneath the clear, blue exploring the proud ship. down the Atlantic seaboard supporting waters of Grand Cayman. The stern sank ships of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet of Submarines frst, followed by a foamy burst of bubbles But many do not fully appreciate the long in various activities and maneuvers. as the rest of the ship quickly disappeared road traversed to bring this wreck to the from view. A new dive site had been island of Grand Cayman. Similarly, the Many of her missions up to this point created, one that was immediately popular history of the Kittiwake, with an important were routine and fairly nondescript. But and that continues to receive scores of connection to one of the most tragic events her connection to military history was divers each week to this day. in the history of space exploration,. is not sharpened when on July 20, 1960, the THEIR FUTURE DEPENDS ON US

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JOIN THE FIGHT FOR INCREASED PROTECTIONS FOR SHARKS AND RAYS Photo: Steve Woods 52 SCUBAH2OMAG.COM CARIBBEAN

Kittiwake stood by of Cape Canaveral, Florida as the submarine USS George Washington launched the frst two Polaris ballistic missiles ever fred from a submarine underwater.

In contrast, on February 2, 1963, of Key West, Florida, she established herself as a permanent part of American history when she spotted the Cuban boat Jose Maria Perez, subsequently taking on board 12 refugees feeing communist oppression in and carrying them to safety in Key West.

The Kittiwake served the United States admirably around the world, including several long tours of duty in the Mediterranean Sea. These types of service vessels operate behind the scenes and do not often receive the accolades or prominent publicity that other vessels engaged in active combat sometimes receive, but they are essential to the efective operations of our military. In 1986, this type of service from the Kittiwake came into clear focus.

On January 28, 1986, a horrifed nation watched as the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds into its fight, killing all seven crewmembers on board. The spacecraft disintegrated over a section of the Atlantic Ocean of Cape Canaveral, Florida after the failure of an O-ring in its solid rocket booster allowed pressurized burning gas to compromise the structural integrity of the vehicle. At 11:39am EST, the nation watched as a schoolteacher, and six other astronauts, perished on national television.

In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, questions were raised as to the ability of the astronauts to survive the crash. Naturally, the recovery of the vehicle’s “blackbox”, similar to those used on commercial airliners, became a prime focus for NASA

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as they struggled to fnd answers to those will provide ships free of charge to states or visit her remains today. types of questions. A lengthy search began, counties that can ensure that the ship will be with ships combing the Atlantic for the responsibly sunk at an approved location. So, when you swim through the shadowy blackbox, the crew compartment and any Part of preparing a ship for intentional corridors of the Kittiwake, remember the other vehicle fragments. The Department sinking involves the cleaning of all many years of proud service she provided. of Defense, on behalf of NASA, managed contaminants and toxic substances. This is It will make your dive all the more special. the search, with assistance from the United an expensive and time-consuming process. States Coast Guard. Of course, the exact Oils, asbestos, PCBs and other contaminants Getting There location of the debris feld was kept secret to are common on these vessels and all must discourage scavengers and was designated be removed completely before any sinking International visitors arrive into Grand simply as “Area 37”. The Coast Guard referred is to be arranged. The Kittiwake was the frst Cayman’s modern Owen Roberts to the search area as the largest search in such ship undergoing this process to be International Airport. Visitors are required which they had ever participated. given to a foreign government. to hold a valid passport for travel to/from Grand Cayman. Passports must be valid for In a little known footnote to this tragic In addition to the preparation of the ship, six months beyond the date of arrival. The story, but one of immense importance, it many legal hurdles have to be cleared resorts at Seven Mile Beach are a 15 minute was the Kittiwake that eventually recovered before a sinking can take place. One such ride by taxi from the airport. the Space Shuttle Challenger Blackbox challenge is the selection of the site and the from the foor of the Atlantic Ocean. This environmental impact study that must be Baggage Blackbox provided troves of valuable done to ensure that the ship will not create information to NASA and the rest of the damage or cause harm to the environment. Baggage allowances vary for each world regarding the exact conditions that Once this was complete, and the ship was international carrier, so check before you led to the explosion, and the eventual fate cleaned properly and completely, the plans leave! Note: Some international carriers are of the astronauts on board. to transport the Kittiwake from Virginia to the now enforcing weight and size limits for were put into place. Even carry-on bags as well what is considered a Less than 10 years later, in 1994, the United though the ship was ready in late summer personal carry-on type of bag. States government decommissioned the of 2010, it was determined to be too risky Kittiwake and she was mothballed in James to tow the ship during hurricane season. Weather River, Virginia. Her fate, at that point, was On December 17, 2010 the Kittiwake began very uncertain. her fnal voyage at sea, departing the James Grand Cayman lies in the Caribbean south River facility in Virginia heading south to the of Cuba. There are two seasons on Grand In 2002, the Cayman Islands Tourism Caribbean and the Cayman Islands. Cayman: the summer or “rainy” season, Association began looking for ways to generally from mid-May through October, boost dive tourism to the islands. Although It took years for the Cayman Islands’ moving into the winter or “dry” season, from scuba divers had been visiting the Cayman project to sink the Kittiwake to come to November to April. March and April are the Islands for decades, enjoying the world completion…ten years to be exact. Today, driest months and May and October are famous reefs and wall dives and marveling the ship rests quietly in the warm, clear traditionally the highest rainfall months. at the gin-clear waters and pristine beaches, waters of the Caribbean Sea, a popular the association felt that a shipwreck of dive site with scuba divers from around the The average temperature in the winter prominent stature was needed to keep world. But like so many other shipwrecks, is 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit and 80-95 divers interested in coming to the islands. the Kittiwake has a story to tell. It is a story degrees in the summer. The Kittiwake became the focus of their of resolute service and connections to plan to bring such a ship to Grand Cayman. history. It is a story of search and recovery Currency following a national tragedy. It is a story The United States Maritime Administration that is documented and stored away in The Caymanian Dollar is the currency of (MARAD) oversees the disposition of libraries of Government records but one Cayman Islands but US dollars are widely decommissioned government vessels and that is not often appreciated by those who accepted. 54 SCUBAH2OMAG.COM CARIBBEAN

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