News
WWII bomb discovery in Falmouth Bay: The Full Story (Watch Video)
While diving around Falmouth Bay recently, looking for the old WWII degaussing field I had seen before, I came across what I thought was a possible bomb. I had seen a similar one before, which I reported to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit (EODU), who then came to detonate the device. The co-ordinates were stored; there was no way of acquiring an exact position without attaching something to the device, with a straight line to the surface. I returned with some volunteer divers to help re-locate the suspected bomb. We would also film, photograph and measure it. Then the images could be shown to the EODU, in the hope they could identify it.
We waited until some favourable weather came along. Conditions were not ideal, but the divers descended to look for the object. The device took a while to relocate, due to the in water visibility. Once relocated, the remaining dive time was short, the visibility wasn’t great and the surface conditions were worsening. The dive was called off; we would have to return.
You can watch Scubaverse Editor-at-Large Jeff Goodman’s video of our investigation of the bomb here: http://www.scubaverse.com/atlantic-scuba-discover-wwii-bomb-watch-video/
A few days later, the weather forecast was good, so we planned our return. On arrival, the surface conditions were greatly improved compared to our last visit. My buddy, Sue Barnes, and I descended to the sea bed. Within five minutes we were on the device and we photographed and filmed the object before marking the site with a buoy. After our dive, the second buddy pair of David Gibbins and Katrina Mace, went down, to take even more photographs. After the dives, we all discussed what we had seen. We all believed it was highly probable that it was a parachute mine, possibly a type GC with its end cap still in place. We arrived back late that evening and waited until the following morning to contact the authorities.
Early Wednesday morning, I called the MCA who requested some photographs. The MCA then passed them onto the EODU. On seeing the images, the EODU contacted me to say it needed to be looked at to ascertain whether it was indeed a potentially dangerous device. They were loading up and would be down within two hours.
The EODU arrived at Maenporth Beach, the closest place to the device to launch their boat. After some starting issues, they made their way out. One of their divers went in. We all waited to find out what the device was. Time passed slowly on that cold afternoon. Eventually the diver came up, the boat returned. The C.O. stated that it was in fact a parachute mine, type GC. There was not enough daylight to continue with a disposal and so they would have to return the following morning.
On Thursday morning, the EODU left Falmouth on their boat, followed by the RNLI, the harbour master and the harbour pilot. The EODU sent a diver down, while the other boats kept all other vessels at bay. On the shore at Maenporth, several dozen people waited patiently for the detonation. The EODU’s boat moved away. A small column of water shot up, followed a few seconds later by a short bang. Everyone looked at each other: “Was that it?” was heard echoed amongst the onlookers.
Surely not? Compared to the last detonation five years ago, this was a bit of a damp squib. Everyone kept watching and recording. The EODU returned to the location, a diver descended. Fifteen minutes later, all the boats were off, that was it. The MCA told us that the EODU had declared that it was now safe.
Bemused about the events, we discussed what had happened. We can only assume that the mine came down so fast, without the parachute deploying, that it damaged the internal workings and cracked the watertight casing. Seventy five years of salt water ingress may have caused the explosives to be harmless.
I suppose I should now go and look for the other two I have previously seen…
All photos and videos: Mark Milburn – www.atlanticscuba.co.uk.
Blogs
TRAVEL BLOG: Jeff Goodman Dives SOMABAY, Part 3
Today we are diving one of the outer reefs from an inflatable. As we reach the bottom, a reef octopus eases its way into the cover of a small crack in the coral while displaying it’s incredible ability to change colour. They are arguably one of the most charismatic of reef dwellers and it is always exciting for me to simply hover and watch. I would have spent longer and waited for it to come and investigate me, but as dive time is limited we wanted to move on and find a turtle.
The waters around Somabay are well protected and hold a rich variety of marine life. The reef edges are thriving colonies of coral and shoaling fish, while nearer the sea bed plenty of wildlife is still to be found.
Then we located the turtles. They are very used to divers and so show little concern when slowly approached. In fact occasionally one will come over to see what you are doing. There is always huge excitement when diving with a turtle. The shear thrill of sharing a moment with another species.
What a fantastic way to finish a wonderful few days diving and I would like to thank SOMABAY, ORCA DIVING and THE BREAKERS for making my stay such a good one.
I had a great time, with diving everyday either on the house reef or on one of the offshore reefs by inflatable or larger day boat. Orca diving provided high quality equipment and facilities while the staff were all very friendly and welcoming. The Breakers was right on the coast with nice rooms, good food and once again friendly staff making the whole trip a real pleasure.
Soma Bay covers an entire peninsula and is home to several resorts as well as residential compounds.
As well as scuba diving, Somabay caters for many other sports and activities, and so is perfect for families as well as individuals and/or groups. And of course there is always time to lay peacefully on the beach under the Egyptian sun.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
Blogs
TRAVEL BLOG: Jeff Goodman Dives SOMABAY, Part 2
Day three of my trip to Somabay and we were spending the day on the Lady Christina and diving on the wreck of the Salem Express.
Diving wrecks for me is always one of mixed emotions. The excitement of diving a wreck is more than often tempered by the thought of loss of life when she sank. The Salem Express was a passenger ship and a roll-on/roll-off ferry travelling from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Safaga, Egypt. Most passengers were of poor class travelling home from their holidays while around 150 people were returning home from their pilgrimage to Mecca.
The ship struck a reef and sank within 20 minutes. Passengers were trapped below deck and the ship was filled with fear and panic.
The wreck area is strewn with personal belongings from the crew and passengers such as a transistor radio and a flat iron for clothes. A diver at sometime has put them in a prominent place to be seen.
Tragically only one life boat was launched while the others went down with the ship. More than 600 men, women and children lost their lives here.
It’s a stark reminder that the sea can be unforgiving and so when we dive on such wrecks we should do so with humble regard.
Returning to the surface, shoals of fish are gathered under our boat and seem to be welcoming us back into the light.
Back at the Breakers I sat in the dining area with a beer and a very good meal while my thoughts still remained with the day’s dive on the Salem Express.
Check in for part 3 tomorrow for Jeff’s last day of diving with Somabay on the off-shore reefs looking for turtles.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
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