Day 4: Noquebay and a return to the Lucerne
(August 01, 2004)
Many vessels anchored around the
NoquebayToday we headed to Stockton Island to examine the wrecksite of the
Noquebay (
Noquebay site plan). We arrived on site to find glass smooth water and spectacular visibility. The excellent conditions allowed for a fast video survey of the site. The Noquebay site has witnessed heavily sedimentation in recent years, and much of the wreck is now buried under several feet of sand. The Noquebay's wheel lies just off the wreck partially buried in the sand.
Noquebay's broken wheel
After the Noquebay we headed back to the Lucerne (Lucerne site plan) in hopes of finding better visibility. We were elated as we pulled up to the mooring buoy we could see the entire wrecksite from the surface! Keith and Tami began a new video survey, but halfway through the dive the currents once again shifted and reduced visibility. The survey was successful, however, as excellent data was aquired.
Examining the Lucerne's windlass
By creating photo mosaics of the wrecksites we can compare the current site conditions with those mapped ten years prior. Today we saw the most significant changes on the site of the Noquebay. Sand movement has covered large portions of the Noquebay that were previously visible. The Noquebay's wheel has also been significantly bent, either from ice, a boater anchoring into the site, or divers attempting to pull the wheel from the sand.
Tomorrow we return to the Sevona to complete the site's survey.
