Comments (26)

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(Darlene's Cargo Wreck) Eric.Eckman, Chuck, Kurtis, Susan, Darlene Fong Hi Scott! Here are the facts of the dive along with some photos. Larger res photos may be available if desired. Do you have the lat/long for the wreck? From Google Earth: 26 23’ 00” N 128 02’00” E Roughly 3 miles East South East of Ike-Shima. This is a guestimate based on southwest wind with Ike off our starboard aft quarter. It is unlikely one could locate this wreck with this information. Chris Pancoast knows the exact location and all dives should be undertaken with him on his boat due to his experience finding and fishing on the wreck, and his knowledge of the ocean currents in this area of Okinawa. Do you have the exact date for the wreck? Date of the wreck is unknown; however, it shows similar decomposition traits to that of the Emmons, so I suspect it is from that era (my opinion). Dive info: 31 Jan 2010, Dive Time 1022; dive duration – 51 minutes; descent time: 9 minutes; time on bottom 4 minutes; Equivalent Narcotic Depth at max depth: 85 feet Width is approximately 40 feet; length is unknown at this time – we had ~75’ viz and could not see the superstructure from the bow. Top of the forecastle was 215, main deck at 225, and to the sand was 250 to 270. VIS = 50-80', NO CURRENTS THAT DAY DURING SLACK TIDE,, NO WAVES/SURGEWATER TEMP WAS 69F (Eric and Darlene WORE DRY SUITs, CHUCK WORE WETSUIT - 5MM), AIR TEMP WAS 69-75'F BECAUSE IT WAS cloudy/raining ALL MORNING. True name unknown: Wreck named in honor of first dive team lead to dive it: Darlene’s Wreck Date of the wreck is unknown. The wreck appears to be a cargo ship that is lying in sand and shallow reef patches very exposed to the water column. Age is unknown; it is not a charted wreck according to Japanese Coast Guard. Possible three wrecks in the area according to Chris Pancoast, Boat Captain. This wreck was discovered by Chris Pancoast who has successfully fished it. He inquired of the wreck to the local coast guard and they were unaware of any wreck in this area. Chris reported a suspect structure to Darlene who organized the first exporatory dive on the wreck. Dive team included: Boat Captain Chris Pancoast, Dive Team Lead Darlene Fong, Dive Team Supervisor Chuck DeCesari, Dive Team Photographer Eric Eckman, Safety Support Divers Kurt Reese, and Suzan Gada. Qualifications recommended to dive Darlene's wreck include PADI full Trimix or equivalent with experience to 250 feet or more. Do not attempt this dive on air; the depth of the main deck is beyond air toxicity limits, the open ocean exposure, and unpredictable nature of the dive site make dive's within Tec Deep air limits unreasonable. Perhaps future exploration of the wreck and it's superstructure will find otherwise. This awesome dive was capped off by a porpoise frolicking around the dive boat once we reboarded from the dive. Congratulations to Chris and Darlene for bringing this lost ship to light again! Cheers! Eric Echman

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(Japan) Here is a short list of English Speaking Dive shops on Okinawa, Japan above and beyond Military dive shops. Which are: US Marine Corps. Tsunami Gear www. mccsOkinawa.com Courtney 622-9795, Camp Foster 645-4206, Camp Hansen 623-7717, Camp Kinser 637-2027. US Air Force Kadena Marina 634-6344 Kadena Marina Scuba Locker Kadena Marina has boat trips to the Kerama's and has a second port at Okuma Resort US Army Torri Scuba Locker 644-4290 TORII TRAINING Civilian Dive Shops... North of Nago Boat Charters Hedo Dome, USS Emmons, IE Island northofnago@ezweb.ne.jp 090-3790-2924 ask for Chuck Oki Diving Seragaki Onna Village okidiving@gmail.com CPT David 090-5290-9232 CPT Chris 090-9788-0282 Far East Marine Dive Company fareastmaridiveco@gmail.com 090-9786-0543 Reef Encounters International http:reefencounters.org info@reefencounters.org 098-995-9414 090-1940-3528 O2 Dive Okinawa http://www7.ocn.ne.jp/%7E02dive 098-956-7791 mobile 090-5389-7275 Asian Dive Tours Asian Dive Tours! Contact: 098-964-4007 or 090-5025-3153 and ask for Nancy or E-mail asian_dive_tours@hotmail.com Blue Ocean Scuba Blue Ocean Scuba 090-3123-7903 ask for Thomas 080-3978-3885 ask for Gerry Viamare Formally Fathoms Diving TEL :098-956-8108 ＦＡＸ：０９８－９５６－８４４０ FAX :098-956-8440 Open Coast Home - Open Coast 1Ž·866Ž·OCTŽ·DIAL/310Ž·433Ž·6653 Japanese Dive Shops: A Calm Sea Celsius Ana Hotel&resort Ishigaki Ana Hotel&resort Onna Village Back Drop Okinawa Benthos Divers Blenny Diving Service Blue Field Blue Try Blue Zone Butterfly Dive Ocean Celsius Club Coconut Ishigaki Coral Calm Dive Kids Divegelende Mogucyaoclub Diving Service Joy Joy Diving Service Kafuu Diving Service Sun*island Diving School Umicoza Diving Shop Dord Okinawa Diving Shop Lion Fish Diving Supplyer Smile Diving Team Cool Diving Team Unarizaki Divingproject Jic Kumejima Eco Guide Cafe Fun Fun Dolphin Grand Blue Hula Dive Miyako Island Club Island Message JAL Hotel and Resort Okuma Kaifu Divers Kumasan No Diving Shop Liberte Diving Service Loco Marine Service Manza Beach Hotel Marea Miyakojima Marine Club Berry Marine Club Nagi Marine Palette Marine Product Marine Star Marinehouse Ie Island Mmc Moon Beach Diving School Mother Earth Naha Marine Sports Naha Sea Marine Nankuru Diver's Okinawa Ocean Trip Ok Marine Club Okinawa Adventure Company Okinawa Diving Shop Suimy Okinawa J.boy Diving Club Okinawa Marine Point Okinawa Ocean Divers Panari Marine Club Paradise Club Peace Blue Pushynushima Ishigaki Reeffers Ocean Sports Sea Max Diving Club Seamens Club Resort Hotel Southern Reef Okinawa Southward Tomsawyer Marine Shop Yumeya Marine Club

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