Friday, September 19, 2025

Dive Site News

Lowering Rhody into the lake. Credit: Marley Parker

Shipwreck Windfall: ROV Expedition Captures Maritime History

the intentional sinking of the S.S. United States off the Florida coast to create an artificial reef. “This is a really cool opportunity because you can do a pre-sinking inspection to know what the current conditions are. After the vessel is sunk and the community starts to interact with it as a dive site, how it changes is an important scientific question to answer.”Rhody may also see some modifications, including the addition of manipulator arms. “We're expanding its capability. Then we can do not only the survey work, but we can collect samples and actually interact with the seafloor

Source: US Coast Guard

US Coast Guard Displayed Ingenuity and Resourcefulness in Titan Response

assets or voluntarily report their dive operation as recommended by the USCG National SAR Plan, the Coast Guard in conjunction with multiple partners responded to the TITAN distress notification with ingenuity and resourcefulness.The complex deep-sea environment combined with the remote high seas dive site presented extraordinary operational challenges to the rescue mission, yet the international effort showcased the power of unity of effort in what initially appeared to be a desperate race against time. The Coast Guard's unwavering commitment to its SAR operating philosophy drove a relentless

Source: US Navy

US Navy Divers Get Augmented Vision Display

transmitting vital information between the diver and surface team — including rate of ascent and descent, time elapsed, current and maximum depth and remaining levels of breathing gas.DAVD can take sonar imagery gathered before and during a dive and use it to create a detailed 3D model of the dive site. In addition, divers are able to receive videos, technical manuals, images, messages and other data to help them navigate underwater and maintain smooth communications with the surface.Approximately 15 DAVD systems are currently being used by nine naval commands — and have played important

Image courtesy Saab Seaeye

Expedition Yacht Deploys Falcon as a 'Rescue Robot'

an eventing suite. It also comes with both a three jaw and a five-function manipulator, each with rope cutters, along with hydraulic cable cutter and rotary cleaning brush.Although the Falcon’s key role is recovery of Dapple’s submersible, for general diving safety the Falcon can survey a dive site beforehand, then watch over a diver when below and transport items back and forth during a dive.Image courtesy Saab Seaey

© damedias / Adobe Stock

Face Masks Adding to Sea Pollution

The coronavirus pandemic is adding a new unwelcome element to sea pollution off the town of Bauan, a popular dive site in the Philippines' Batangas province.Regular visitors and locals have reported a rise in the number of face masks and PPE shields being collected from the seabed."It might be because some people who get on the boat just loop their masks on one end and it comes off, or others just do not throw them away properly," said Arnel Vergara, a Filipino professional diver who has been diving in the area for the past decade.Carmela Sevilla, a resort owner and diving instructor

Weddell seals swim in challenging conditions. (Photo: McMurdo Oceanographic Observatory, CC BY-ND)

New Recordings of Ultrasonic Seal Calls Hint at Sonar-like Abilities

I’m sitting on the edge of a hole drilled through 15 feet of Antarctic sea ice, about to descend into the frigid ocean of the southernmost dive site in the world. I wear nearly 100 pounds of gear – a drysuit and gloves, multiple layers of insulation, scuba tank and regulators, lights, equipment, fins and over 40 pounds of lead to counteract all that added buoyancy.I do a final check with my dive buddies: Air? Hoses? Weights? Then, one by one, we put in our mouthpieces, plop into the hole and sink out of sight into the dark.As we frog-kick along, following our lights toward the work site

Putting eyes underwater the Falcon is a valuable resource for superyachts offered by MarineGuard. (MarineGuard)

Saab Seaeye Cracks into the Superyacht Security Market

for recovering items from the seabed, with other tools added as needed. Tools such as rope cutters for severing 15mm rope and 12mm steel wire rope, powerful manipulators and cleaning systems for keeping critical fittings clear.Diver safety is a key benefit. As a dive buddy, a Falcon can survey a dive site and then watch over the diver when below. It can also transport items back and forth during a dive.A Falcon can watch over a diver and survey a site before a dive. (Saab Seaeye

Photo: WASSP

WASSP Updates S Series Multibeam Sonar

WASSP Multibeam has announced the release of two new firmware updates, CDX 4.0 and DRX 6.0, for its S Series multibeam sonar systems designed for the survey market, including dredging, dive site profiling, wreck hunting and many other survey activities.These updates will add a number of new functions to WASSP systems currently in use and, in most cases, can be installed by the user free-of-charge.A new Compensation Control adjusts for sea temperature and salinity, ensuring that the seafloor remains flat irrespective of different absorption losses in the water column.Whether using CDX or a third-party

(U.S. Navy photo by LeighAhn Ferrari)

Oil Removed from WWII Era Shipwreck

their four-point moor over ex-Prinz Eugen.Each oil-filled, accessible tank was hot tapped, pumped free of recoverable oil, and sealed with a permanent, tamper-proof dome assembly to prevent any subsequent leakage of residual oil clingage left in the tank. These actions ensured that the wreck, a popular dive site, is safe for continued recreational diving and the Atoll is safe from the risk of significant oil spill from ex-Prinz Eugen."This project was an incredible opportunity to showcase the U.S. Navy Salvage community's capabilities. SUPSALV had prior experience with sunken vessel oil removal

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