News
Mark Milburn’s Cornish Wreck Ramblings, Part 4: HMS Anson, a tragedy & saver of lives
When the HMS Anson hit Loe Bar on Christmas eve in 1807, the conditions and the location made it a certain tragedy. Loe Bar is a shingle bar, that swallows up ships and turns then rapidly into wrecks. There is an unknown number of wrecks along the bar, many were not even witnessed, those that were nearly all ended as a very tragic outcome. The Anson broached to and the ship was to be lost forever, along with a large, but unknown, number of sailors. Two important changes came about because of this tragedy, one of these was the Burial of Drowned Persons Act 1808. The other was a life saving invention by a witness of the wreck, Henry Trengrouse.
Up until this wrecking, any sailors or persons that perished at sea, would be buried in unconsecrated grounds, usually close to the wreck. The HMS Anson was a British Frigate, yet the sailors who died on her, were still buried on the cliff tops and not within church grounds. A local solicitor drafted a new law, which was presented to parliament by John Tremayne. The law stated any unclaimed bodies of dead persons cast ashore from the sea, should be removed by the church wardens and interred in consecrated grounds. The law was passed in 1808.
The Anson was very close to the shore, yet too far to cast a rope. One of the witnesses to the tragedy, was Henry Trengrouse. He was so upset by the whole event, that he decided to improve the Bell mortar apparatus. His invention was the rocket apparatus, combined with a chair, rather than a cradle. The original design has been upgraded a few times since but it has saved many thousands of lives.
Since the Anson sank, there has been several salvage attempts. Many of the ship’s 24 pounder guns were removed, a few can be seen around the area. Two are at the entrance to Porthleven Harbour, another is outside the Helston Folk Museum and another at RNAS Culdrose. Many more of the guns were recovered but little is known of their whereabouts, if they still exist and have not been scrapped. There is also several artefacts from the Anson inside the Helston Folk Museum, as well as a lot of information about Henry Trengrouse.
Today, most of the Anson is buried under the forever shifting shingle of Loe Bar. I recently visited the Anson site, to see what was currently exposed. There is believed to be 13 guns left on the site. After freediving the site for 75 minutes, I found one gun, just showing itself. There was nothing else visible on the site, which is only about 30 metres from shore at low water. This is a very fluid location, one I shall visit on a regular basis, hopefully seeing a lot more of this important wreck one day.
Find out more about Mark and Atlantic Scuba at www.atlanticscuba.co.uk
Blogs
EXCLUSIVE: Jeff Goodman interviews Mark Spiers, CEO of New Scuba Diving Training Agency NovoScuba
In a video recorded exclusively for Scubaverse.com, Jeff Goodman interviews Mark Spiers, CEO of new scuba diving training agency NovoScuba.
Find out more about NovoScuba at www.novoscuba.com.
News
Charting New Waters; NovoScuba Goes Global with the Launch of their Revolutionary Dive Training Agency!
Discover a New Era of Dive Education: NovoScuba Brings Innovation to the Surface! Fully ISO Certified and Equipped with Cutting-Edge Technology.
With a combined experience spanning over a century in the diving industry, a team of accomplished dive store owners, managers, and professionals unveils NovoScuba, a ground-breaking dive training agency poised to redefine the benchmarks of underwater education. Launching in May 2024, NovoScuba promises a revolutionary approach to dive training. Their vision is to make diving accessible to everyone, share success within the dive community and emphasise positive interactions with the planet.
NovoScuba’s global debut marks a significant milestone in the dive industry. Driven by a vision to challenge convention and harness the power of technology, NovoScuba aims to revolutionise the dive training landscape through its innovative business model, which is digitally native, making it the most technologically advanced dive training agency to date.
“We recognised the need for change in the dive training industry and saw an opportunity to leverage technology, and redefine existing business models to create something truly innovative,” said Mark Spiers, CEO of NovoScuba.
NovoScuba’s platform offers state of the art training programmes ranging from introductory up to professional diving, including various specialties. All programmes meet international standards and ISO certifications are in place. This commitment to shared success, accessibility and positive results for the planet, all at a cost effective and affordable level, is what will make NovoScuba stand out.
“Our deep understanding of traditional pain points for the industry, combined with our digitally native approach positions NovoScuba as a game-changer in dive education. Offering unparalleled initiatives such as student subscription, open access to all course materials, pay as you certify, no stock required, monthly membership payments, payment in local currencies, one-click certifications, and membership freezing, NovoScuba is set to redefine the industry. Available in 13 languages, at launch, the NovoScuba courses are written for the modern divers, with a focus on up-to-date content, interactive learning, and an engaging platform,” Mark Spiers concluded.
NovoScuba is challenging a change in the industry, redefining established traditional systems, and ushering in a new standard of excellence, support, and partnership. Their collaborations with dive stores, pros and underwater enthusiasts won’t demand exclusivity, prioritising earned loyalty, and an understanding that their Member’s success is key to their own.
NovoScuba
Diving Redefined.
-
News3 months agoCapturing Critters in Lembeh Underwater Photography Workshop 2024: Event Roundup
-
Marine Life & Conservation Blogs3 months agoCreature Feature: Swell Sharks
-
Blogs2 months agoMurex Resorts: Passport to Paradise!
-
Blogs2 months agoDiver Discovering Whale Skeletons Beneath Ice Judged World’s Best Underwater Photograph
-
Gear Reviews3 weeks agoGEAR REVIEW – Revolutionising Diving Comfort: The Sharkskin T2 Chillproof Suit
-
Gear Reviews3 months agoGear Review: Oceanic+ Dive Housing for iPhone
-
News2 months agoPADI Teams Up with Wellness Brand Neuro to Drive Ocean Change and Create a Blue State of Mind
-
Marine Life & Conservation2 months agoSave the Manatee Club launches brand new webcams at Silver Springs State Park, Florida