Cruise Talk: They sunk it for artificial reef !

Cruise Talk

Cruise News

Welcome to Cruise Talk the Internet's most popular discussion forum dedicated to cruising. Stop by Cruise Talk anytime to post a message or find out what your fellow passengers and industry insiders are saying about a particular ship, cruise line or destination.

>>> Reader Reviews
>>> CruisePage.com Photo Gallery
>>> Join Our Cruise Club.

Latest News...Carnival Freedom is returning to service following a 35-day dry dock at Chantier Naval de Marseille in France, emerging with a redesigned funnel, expanded casino space and a series of interior upgrades. The ship departed the shipyard en route to Barcelona ahead of its first post-refurbishment sailing. The dry dock marks one of the vessel’s most significant updates in recent years and prepares...

Latest News...Princess Cruises has released its 2028–2029 Americas program, a wide-ranging deployment featuring more than 250 sailings across North, Central and South America, the Caribbean, the Pacific and Antarctica. The season includes the line’s first return to the Amazon River since 2014, along with expanded offerings in Canada & New England, Hawaii, Mexico, the California Coast, ...

Latest News...Holland America Line has outlined a series of Pan Am-themed experiences that will be featured on its 28-day Pan Am 100th Anniversary Legendary Voyage aboard Zuiderdam, departing October 30, 2027. The sailing, roundtrip from Miami, will retrace portions of Pan American World Airways’ historic routes through the Caribbean and Central America, incorporating onboard programming and shore...

More Cruise News...

my profile | register | search | faq | forum home

»	Cruise Talk » Ocean Liners and Classic Cruise Ships » They sunk it for artificial reef !

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!

Author

Topic: They sunk it for artificial reef !

Ðraikar
First Class Passenger
Member # 1153

posted 06-16-2002 05:54 AM

There was talk about this navy ship made to sink as an artificial reef, sunk before they took her to the spot selected but here is a photo from sport divers.

I think any ship underwater is sad, ships not made for sinking but still interesting to read and look at ...

Ðraikar

Posts: 1710 | From: USA, New York | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 06-16-2002 10:36 AM

Here in British Columbia we now have quite a few ships of different types which have been successfully sunk as artificial reefs. It's becoming quite an industry supporting all the divers who come from all over the world to dive here. The sea life which takes over these wrecks is fantastic to see and it really is a better fate than a cutters torch.
...peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

cruiseny
First Class Passenger
Member # 2928

posted 06-16-2002 12:35 PM

quote:
Originally posted by gohaze:
The sea life which takes over these wrecks is fantastic to see and it really is a better fate than a cutters torch.

I agree wholeheartedly!

Happy Cruising,
Cruiseny

Posts: 4730 | From: New York, USA | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 06-16-2002 03:14 PM

One of the AP reports from 11 June says it's already attracting the fish :-
"KEY LARGO, Fla. (AP) -- A salvage crew abandoned attempts to right a 510-foot retired Navy ship that settled on its side after it flipped over and sank prematurely during efforts to convert it into an artificial reef.
The ship finally settled on its right side Monday under 130 feet of water off the Florida Keys. Workers had hoped to pull it upright with a tug boat, but the cables broke twice. "We're done for now," Jim Lupino, chairman-elect of the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce, said Monday. It will be ready for divers as early as this weekend, officials said. Joe Farrell, president of Fort Lauderdale-based Resolve Marine Group, the company charged with sinking the ship, told chamber members that continuing the efforts to right the ship would be costly and perhaps unnecessary. The Spiegel Grove flipped over May 17 and landed about 130 feet under water upside down, hours before it was to be intentionally sunk to the bottom of the sea six miles off Key Largo in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
The ship was already attracting marine life. In videotape shot of the salvage divers doing their work, schools of small fish could be seen darting around.
------
On the Net: Spiegel Grove: http://fla-keys.com/spiegelgrove "

The website is worth a read.

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

Ðraikar
First Class Passenger
Member # 1153

posted 06-16-2002 04:41 PM

Britanis was good but sunk in deep waters

Ðraikar

Posts: 1710 | From: USA, New York | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Britanis
First Class Passenger
Member # 2912

posted 06-16-2002 05:48 PM

Sure she cheated the breakers, but it was only a partial victory, its a shame the plan to bring her to San Francisco failed. Now there is no major prewar ship surviving in origional condition.

The Queen Mary has been robbed of all vestiges of elegance and the former Dunnotar Castle was rebuilt into an (admittedly very attractive) classic cruise ship. Britanis was all that was left of the prewar passenger fleet, now she's gone, and we can't even dive on her!

Posts: 944 | From: Philadelphia, USA- former home of International Merchantile and Marine Co. | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Namlit
First Class Passenger
Member # 1940

posted 06-16-2002 07:42 PM

Anyone here taken a dive to the Mikhail Lermontov, down in New Zealand? I love the idea of diving a full-size ocean liner.

Posts: 309 | From: Greene County, Indiana, USA | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

nzmike
First Class Passenger
Member # 1308

posted 06-16-2002 09:27 PM

Britanis - I understand your comments about Queen Mary, but I believe that despite her many unfortunate mods she still retains a degree of elegance. Many of her public rooms are still very imposing and grand and she still has hints of "the way she used to be" Most tantalisingly, she could be restored to her former glory using what is left. Sadly, I don't believe her current operator has the foresight to do this.

Posts: 186 | From: Auckland, New Zealand | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

KansasK
First Class Passenger
Member # 1758

posted 06-17-2002 01:00 PM

We were in the Florida Keys on vacation a few weeks ago and stopped at Key Largo for a day. We saw t-shirts all saying "I dove the Spiegel Grove" but the ship was then on its side protruding from the water. I guess the t-shirts were printed up early and finally will be a selling item. It was supposed to be 40 feet from the surface and sit at 140 feet on the ocean floor. The web site that Pam gave (thanks, Pam!) said the ship will be at 45 - 58 feet from the surface.

We worked on a diving certification while at Duck Key and did a deep dive to a former U.S. Navy ship at 95 feet, the Thunderbolt. The ship was sunk to be a divers' site and also to be a man-made reef. We saw interesting fish around this ship and coral and sponges are growing on it. The line we descended along was attached to the deck of the ship at the bow. We could see the ship from surface and as we descended to it. It was surreal as we approached it - so quiet and gray. I don't think I could dive to see a sunken cruise ship - it would just be too sad.

Posts: 126 | From: Overland Park, Kansas USA | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

Ðraikar
First Class Passenger
Member # 1153

posted 06-17-2002 05:24 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Britanis:
Sure she cheated the breakers, but it was only a partial victory, its a shame the plan to bring her to San Francisco failed. Now there is no major prewar ship surviving in origional condition. The Queen Mary has been robbed of all vestiges of elegance and the former Dunnotar Castle was rebuilt into an (admittedly very attractive) classic cruise ship. Britanis was all that was left of the prewar passenger fleet, now she's gone, and we can't even dive on her!

When the Kenya Castle and Monterey failed to become anything but scrap metal a part of me died for they were the last of there kind.

Dunnotar Castle was so rebuild that I don't think she counts, she looks nice but was very ugly when as the Dunnotar Castle. I hear that the same people that tried to save Kenya Castle are trying to save Dunnotar Castle and put here in Union Castle Line colors.

Ðraikar

Photos from
http://www.draikar.cjb.net/

[ 06-17-2002: Message edited by: Draikar ]

Posts: 1710 | From: USA, New York | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Ðraikar
First Class Passenger
Member # 1153

posted 06-17-2002 05:32 PM

As you can see they look similar to when first built

From http://www.draikar.cjb.net

Ðraikar

Posts: 1710 | From: USA, New York | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Donald Johnson
First Class Passenger
Member # 50586

posted 04-18-2018 11:33 AM

So many ship have been lost to the breakers yard. Some would say that the Big U should be a reef. Then again, The Independence Seaport Museum wanted to sink the USS Olympia as a reef. Why would anyone be dumb enough to sink the sole remaining ship from the Spanish American War?

Here is a link to Peter Knergo's report on the ship:

USS Olympia Tour

Posts: 100 | From: Florida | Registered: Mar 2011 | IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)

Ultimate Bulletin Board^TM 6.1.0.3

VACATION & CRUISE SPECIALS

Check out these great deals from CruisePage.com

Royal Caribbean - Bahamas Getaway from $129 per person

Description: Experience the beautiful ports of Nassau and Royal Caribbean's private island - CocoCay on a 3-night Weekend Getaway to the Bahamas. Absorb everything island life has to offer as you snorkel with the stingrays, parasail above the serene blue waters and walk the endless white sand beaches. From Miami.

Carnival - 4-Day Bahamas from $229 per person

Description: Enjoy a wonderful 3 Day cruise to the fun-loving playground of Nassau, Bahamas. Discover Nassau, the capital city as well as the cultural, commercial and financial heart of the Bahamas. Meet the Atlantic Southern Stingrays, the guardians of Blackbeard's treasure.

NCL - Bermuda - 7 Day from $499 per person

Description: What a charming little chain of islands. Walk on pink sand beaches. Swim and snorkel in turquoise seas. Take in the historical sights. They're stoically British and very quaint. Or explore the coral reefs. You can get to them by boat or propelled by fins. You pick. Freestyle Cruising doesn't tell you where to go or what to do. Sure, you can plan ahead, or decide once onboard. After all, it's your vacation. There are no deadlines or must do's.

Holland America - Eastern Caribbean from From $599 per person

Description: White sand, black sand, talcum soft or shell strewn, the beaches of the Eastern Caribbean invite you to swim, snorkel or simply relax. For shoppers, there's duty-free St. Thomas, the Straw Market in Nassau, French perfume and Dutch chocolates on St. Maarten. For history buffs, the fascinating fusion of Caribbean, Latin and European cultures. For everyone, a day spent on HAL's award winning private island Half Moon Cay.

Celebrity - 7-Night Western Mediterranean from $549 per person

Description: For centuries people have traveled to Europe to see magnificent ruins, art treasures and natural wonders. And the best way to do so is by cruise ship. Think of it - you pack and unpack only once. No wasted time searching for hotels and negotiating train stations. Instead, you arrive at romantic ports of call relaxed, refreshed and ready to take on the world.

Holland America - Alaska from From $499 per person

Description: Sail between Vancouver and Seward, departing Sundays on the ms Statendam or ms Volendam and enjoy towering mountains, actively calving glaciers and pristine wildlife habitat. Glacier Bay and College Fjord offer two completely different glacier-viewing experiences.

More Vacation & Cruise Specials...