Diver Injured Near Lusitania Wreck

[Eric Longo]

Hi All,

At this early hour I could not figure out where to post this so please Mods, move it where it belongs. I was just looking at some of my collection, observing the differences between teak and pitch pine Mauretania treen/scrap souvenirs, when I decided to handle my bit of the Lusitania wreck for the very first time. I finished, went into my room and opened my email and found a message from a friend in Ireland about a diver being injured near the wreck site.

Here is a link to this roughly hour old story:

Diver Injured - Irish Times

Best,
Eric

 

[Jeremy Aufderheide]

Two things:

1) What a horrible thing for the diver to go through. Not only is his body burned but he has to make a controlled ascent, subjecting his body to further burns. Gotta give him credit for not panicking and heading straight for the surface.

2) What is your bit of the Lusitania?

 

[Bill Sauder]

Does anybody know what the actual dive objective was? Was he diving on the Lusitania, or a nearby wreck, or for some other purpose?

 

[Jeff Brebner]

To make a controlled ascent under those conditions that guy must have nerves of steel. I am in awe.

 

[Eric Longo]

Hi Jeremy,

It is a small bit of a watertight door hand gear, possibly from Shelter Deck. It was recovered by Oceaneering International in August/September 1982. Here is a photo linked below. From the best of sources - Brian Hawley at Luxurylinerrow.com

www geocities.com/magikbilly/LusifragEKL2009.jpg Lusitania Fragment EKL Collection

Best,
Eric

 

[Jeremy Aufderheide]

Nearby wreck? Are there a number of wrecks near the Lusitania?

Eric - Very exciting. Me = jealous.

 

[Eric Longo]

Hi Jeremy,

Thanks

I am glad you like it. Hopefully, this diver will make a full recovery from his burns. As Jeff said - nerves of steel.

Best,
Eric

 

[Michael H. Standart]

>>To make a controlled ascent under those conditions that guy must have nerves of steel. I am in awe.<<

The threat of the Bends may well have given him something of an incentive. Don't know if I could have managed it with burns covering 30% of my body but the cold waters may have numbed him to the pain enough to manage it.

>>Nearby wreck? Are there a number of wrecks near the Lusitania?<<

As busy as U-boats were in this area, it would be a wonder if there weren't any wrecks nearby.

 

[Martin Owen Cahill]

I wonder if it was the Candidate or Centurion wreck sites? Waterford is mentioned.