Monitor
Shark attack… well, just a visit
Monitor
NC Aquarium Diver
Project Participants and Sponsors
Monitor National Marine Sanctuary
Mariners’ Museum Monitor Center
The Mariners’ Museum
UNC Wilmington’s National Undersea Research Center
Maritime Studies Program, East Carolina University
UNCW’s R/V Cape Fear
Coast Guard Stations Hatteras Inlet and Ocracoke
Sartek Industries
Ocean Management Systems
Maxtec, Inc.
Harvey’s Dive Suits
A Wet and Wild Day
Sunday, April 1, 2001
With the time change last night, before climbing into bed, we set our clocks forward an hour. The call to the boat came mighty early this morning. Several team members need to be prodded and juiced with coffee before getting jump started for the seemingly early arousal. But by the time divers staggered off the dock and onto the R/V Cape Fear attitude adjustments were kicking in and they fell into the routine enthusiastically setting up gear, analyzing breathing gases, signing in and reviewing dive plans.
Check out these FANTASTIC shots of the wreck collected from today’s activities! This sand tiger shark was enormous, estimated at 18 feet, and very friendly! He swam amongst the working divers and past over the wreck time and time again as if posing for the camera. Dedicated project photographer, Nat Robb, impressed us all today. This was his first time viewing the wreck and he was assigned an enormous task list of photos to take.
Project Historian, Jeff Johnston produced a photograph wish list with the explanation that Nat may not be able to accomplish all of the shots but to get as many as he could. So impressed with the data collected and progress made today, several project members were sent home for needed R & R. We have decided to take the next two days off to enjoy the nice weather and tour the Outer Banks.
Today’s Roster:
- Boat
- Captain- Dan Aspenlighter (UNCW)
- Dive Supervisor/DMT- Doug Kesling (NURC)
- Chamber Operator-Glen Taylor (NURC)
- Historian- Jeff Johnston (MNMS)
- Dive Supervisor/DMT- Doug Kesling (NURC)
- Bottom Divers
- Terrence Tysall
- Nat Robb
- Tamara Ebert
- Tane Casserley ( MNMS)
- Shawn Douthat
- Chad Roberts
- Nat Robb
- Support Divers
- Jana Aquarium Staff
- Mike Barnette (NOAA)
- Sweat Diver
- John Barone
- Zodiac Support
- Mark Corkery
- Mike Rodaway (UNCW)
- Mike Rodaway (UNCW)
APRIL FOOLS!!!!!!
The weather foiled dive plans again for today. However, we are keeping an eye to the sky to get out tomorrow. The team, today, took a drive up to the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island to tour the exhibits where they display a 1/3 scale model of the Monitor wreck site in their new 285 thousand gallon aquarium.
Send questions or comments to the Trilobite.