Bored? Let's have a heated wreck debate!

Khram - I shall have to do a google on that one.

Don't tell Ned, but I'm actually reading the White Star book, as well as looking at the pictures ;-)

Hi Global

You said: "Ned - let the White Star thing go! Bitterness doesn't suit you ;-) Anyway, I like looking at the photos ;-)"

OK, I see the smile at the end - but looking at the photos is exactly what they are relying on. Divers are being RIPPED OFF by these books and it takes someone like myself who is (A) Able to recognise this and (B) prepared to speak out and warn others.

That is where I am coming from. I haven't got time for bitterness.

Back to the subject in hand.

Aaron Ward is definitely “In”. I’ve already written over 5,000 words. What a great story. Did you know she earned 3 Battle Stars during her short life and after she was lost, they built another destroyer, gave it the same name and she went into service in time to earn yet another Battle Star before the end of WW2. Makes great reading.

“Don Pedro” is “out” along with the Greek cruise liner “Sea Diamond”.

Everything is taking shape and I expect to be in Malta by Christmas (or shortly thereafter) in order to re-write my “Maltese Islands Diving Guide” and then commence this project in about 10-12 months from now.

Thank you to everyone for their input.

Best wishes.

Ned

Well you let me know when you are thinking of diving the Ward, & I'll come with you.

Thanks for the info, btw. I can't tell you how good she looks on a 60m vis day ;-)

You might like to have a look at The John Penn, which is also done by Neil at Tulagi - I haven't been down to The Penn yet.

At the moment I'm planning on buying your book for my Christmas pressie to myself, reading it, then off to do a liveaborad for the wrecks in the Red Sea

I will be looking at a PNG dive trip either back end of next year - very early in 09

Oh I remember another nice wreck...

Don't know the name actually, but it is at the tip of Ile de la Goree, off Dakar/Senegal. The most unusual dive I have ever done, in that the water was quite cold, and everyone in the shop spoke only French... heheh... they didn't mind that I had no divers' licence with me... had left it at home... but they use the same sign language so communication under water was ok :-)

Hi Global

You said "I'm planning on buying your book for my Christmas pressie to myself"

So send me a private email and get a signed copy!!!

ned "at" nedmiddleton.demon.co.uk

Hi Klaush

Would love to learn more - sounds intriguing. Any details? Names of diving facility?

I already have 2 hits from my own private library on possible wrecks in that area - although one of these appears as though she was sunk some distance from shore.

The other ship is a freighter of approx. 4,000 tons measuring 350 feet in length lost during WW2. Does that sound familiar?

Ned

Right - Ned & Co. Here's what we have in Subic Bay - this is north of Manila in the Philippines.....

Oryoku Maru (The Hell Ship)

There not much here as it was in a shipping channel so it was flattened by the US Navy

During the war they sunk it, then found that there were 1600 US Pows onboard - all whom died in the attack.....

USS New York - decommissioned in 32, scuttled by the US in 42 to stop it falling into Japanese hands

port side resting at 28m - a dveable battleship with guns

El Capitan - 130m long freighter in 5-20m of water - one of the better wrecks to photograph.

Vis in Subic is apparently crap mind - 5m - 15m at best

Best vis - which I assume is 15m, is apparently January - June

I might have a pop at this sometime - Philippines is a good hub for Truck & stuff

Coron was really good, from an enjoying the diving point of view, & I only had 8-10m vis there

These wrecks in Subic are shallow as wrecks go, so you'd get a good blow for your buck ;-)

Correction - best time for Subic is apparently November to May

I was looking at the wrong page - Doh!

Hi guys.

I still need a lot of convincing as far as the Philippines are concerned.

That said, this USS New York looks like an incredible shipwrecks. Pity she was scuttled. Although that was not as a diving attraction, it still removes the story of her loss. I would need a really good story to go with the wreck and a potted account of her history just isn’t the same as a tale of how a ship came to be lost.

Any ideas???

There are some amazing images of the wreck on the following site.

http://www.oz.net/~markhow/pre-dred/newyork.htm<BR><BR>Ned<BR>

That's what I like about you Ned - never happy unless it's a totally tragic sinking!! ;-)

They sunk a ship with 1600 of their own men on board - what more do you want? OK - admit there doesn't seem to be much left to actually classify as a wreck

What about Coron?
The Filippino version of Chuuk?

You get to dive the Akitsushima flying boat tender ....

Oooh - he's a hard task master!

I still think you should include the B-17 Blackjack .. ..