First a video of several free dives on the Ancient Mariner, passing over and through several parts of the wreck.
and now some still shots taken with the new GoPro Hero 3 camera.
A composite of screen captures from GoPro3 video of the wreck.
(CLICK photo for full sized image)
We went out with Dixie Diver.
Looking forward from aft of the wheelhouse. I understand waves and currents related to Hurricane Sandy caused those plates to buckle resulting in the settling of the house. Tropical systems can propagate tremendous wave forces underwater over long distances.
Moving along with two GoPros on a Quikpod Monopod and a third one in my hand to capture varied perspectives.
Scooter free diving down to the wreck.
The stern
Passing below decks
Heading into the wheelhouse
Coming up on the bow
We drifted dove the west facing ledge of the third reef in about 50 ft. of water on the second dive. This six foot shark showed up briefly during the dive.
The aft section
This is what this USCG site has to say about the origins of the Ancient Mariner originally as the SS Nemesis, commissioned in 1934.
WPC-111 Nemesis
Argo class Patrol Cutter:
Displacement: 350 tons (full load)
Length: 165'
Beam: 25'3"
Draft: 10'
Speed: 16 knots
Armament: 2 3"/50 DP, 2 20mm AA, 2 depth charge tracks, 2 depth charge projectors, 2 rocket launchers
Complement: 7 officers, 68 enlisted
Diesel engines, twin screws; 1,340 hp
Built at Marietta Manufacturing Co., Point Pleasant, W. Va., and commissioned 10 October 1934
http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/...1_Nemesis.html
The vessel was descommissioned in ??? and
www.iamlasolas.com
The restaurant Livingstons Landing on New River just to the northeast of the courthouse which opened in 1979. It had been remodeled to look like a three deck African steamer increasing seating area and given the vessel a decidedly strange look. It closed in 1981 and reopened at the Ancient Mariner. Some of the bilges flooded causing the vessel to capsize at the dock laying on its port side on the bottom. They undertook a major salvage job to right it. I recall that they buried massive concrete deadmen in the ground to serve as holdfasts for several large winches. They secured the cables to the vessel and winched it vertical again.
We ate onboard three or so times over the years and thankfully never became ill. It was a popular restaurant until a kitchen worker spread hepatitis to 109 people served on the vessel. This set a world record and putting the restaurant out of business in short order. It was eventually sold and converted to an artificial reef and subsequently sunk in 70 ft. of water southeast of the Deerfield Beach fishing pier in 1991.
.