Anyone who has been in the shop over the last couple of weeks will be
well aware that Mark and the SOE team have been trying to get out to dive
the site they believed to be that of the lost SS Alert.
After two frustrating weeks of inclement weather, yesterday finally saw
the boys head out 6 nm west of Cape Schank to dive the site they had run
the Side Scan Sonar over 2 weeks previous.
Steamship, 243/116 tons. Built at Glasgow, 1877, for Huddart Parker. Lbd 169 x 19.6 x 9.8 ft. (Note - unusually long for her beam). Sailed to Australia as a three-masted schooner with her funnel and propeller stowed in the hold. Temporarily replaced SS Despatch on the Gippsland-Melbourne run in 1893 whilst the Despatch was refitted. Captain Mathieson. Foundered in a tremendous gale with mountainous seas off Jubilee Point near Cape Schanck, Gippsland coast, 28 December 1893. Fifteen lives lost. The one survivor, Robert Ponting, grasped portion of a cabin door and clung to it for sixteen hours whilst in the water before staggering on to the beach about 15 km from where the Alert foundered. That morning he was found unconscious on the beach near Sorrento by four young ladies, partially dressed and half hidden in the sand. The ladies sheltered him as best they could with their cloaks and umbrellas until a man and his St. Bernard dog appeared and rendered first aid. The dog nestled close to Ponting and kept him warm while further assistance was sought. The loss of the vessel saw not only a Court of Marine Board Inquiry, but also civil action against owners Huddard Parker, by the wife of the second engineer, lost in the disaster. She won her case.
http://www.southernoceanexploration.com/alert.php
Seen the new Salvo 35watt HID torch? Check them out next time you
are in the shop. Mark & Aids have been diving with them & they
the brightest thing around at the moment.
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What a
surprise!!
For anyone who has followed the exploits of American Deep Wreck diver
Gary Gentile, it will be of no surprise to learn, Gary has written a book
rebuffing the claims made by John Chatteran in his book on U boat 869
'Shadow Divers'.
In 'Shadow Divers Revealed' Gary Gentile tells his side of the
story and provides other possible explanations as to what happened to
cause the sinking of German U boat 869.
What is a surprise though, is when Melbourne divers take a close look
at the front cover of Gary's new book they will notice that it is a photo
of our very own J4 Submarine!! The photo was taken by Gary Gentile, he
and Mark spent several days diving the subs in 2003, when Gary was he
in Australia for Oztek.
Check out the new book -
http://www.ggentile.com/sdexposed.html
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GUE Training.
December had Aquabilty hosting 4 GUE Instructors (the most ever assembled
in one place
outside of the USA). Courses run were Fundamentals, Tech 1 and Tech 2.
So popular were
these courses that we already have bookings for April 2007. Classes are
limited to
3 students each course, so if you are interested please contact the shop.
Global Underwater Explorers emerged out of a shared desire to safely explore
and protect
the underwater world and to improve the quality of education and research
in all things aquatic.
In line with the original vision of its founding members, GUE is committed
to:
" Developing safe, skilled, and knowledgeable divers
" Undertaking and promoting underwater research
" Pursuing global underwater exploration
" Safeguarding the integrity of the underwater world
" Providing the public with a comprehensive resource on all things
aquatic.
Working to redefine the ties binding the average underwater enthusiast
to underwater explorers, conservationists and scientific researchers GUE
is committed to the overall goal of promoting
the interests of the underwater world and of those who seek to engage
it.
www.gue.com
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Online Shop on it way
Aquability's online shop is nearing completion. You will be able to check
out
our latest specials and competitive prices from the comfort of your home
or
whilst the boss pays you at work