News
Diver in Bermuda offers to lay wreath next to plane wreckage to mark 50th Anniversary
A group of US families planning to return to Bermuda this summer to mark the 50th anniversary of an air collision that claimed 17 lives have received an unexpected offer of assistance.
Deep-sea diver Graham Maddocks learned of how relatives of the dead airmen will return to the island in June for a memorial visit.
And he was so touched by the story that he has offered to take a wreath to the seabed and place it by the wreckage of the two planes that collided on June 29, 1964.
Mr Maddocks, who runs Triangle Diving, said: “I have been told that the two planes are around 250ft down, which is dive-able for us.
“And I would love to do something for these guys that are coming over from the US.
“It is entirely up to the relatives who are coming over to Bermuda whether we do this for them.
“But I thought it might be nice to take a wreath down to the bottom of the sea and maybe video the dive and provide our visitors with a recording of the film.
“It’s just an idea at this stage — and we would have to do an initial practice dive in the deep waters off St David’s to make sure we knew exactly where the planes are.
“But it is a possibility.
“At the end of the day it will be down to the group whether this is something they would like to be done.”
Mike Belter, whose father, Lowell, died in the collision between two US Air Force planes has coordinated efforts to get the relatives of the dead airmen back to Bermuda for the 50th anniversary.
It’s been said that Mr. Belter appreciates Mr Maddocks’ offer and would speak to the rest of the group about the idea before making a decision.
Source: www.bermudasun.bm
Over the next 12 months, specialist scuba holiday company Dive Worldwide will be supporting Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation with donations collected from client bookings to any one of its stunning dive destinations around the world. The independently-owned operator expects to raise £3000 for the UK charity.
Manager at Dive Worldwide, Phil North, said: “We’re especially excited to work with Bite-Back and support its intelligent, creative and results-driven campaigns to end the UK trade in shark products and prompt a change in attitudes to the ocean’s most maligned inhabitant.”
Bite-Back is running campaigns to hold the media to account on the way it reports shark news along with a brand new nationwide education programme. Last year the charity was credited for spearheading a UK ban on the import and export of shark fins.
Campaign director at Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “We’re enormously grateful to Dive Worldwide for choosing to support Bite-Back. The company’s commitment to conservation helps set it apart from other tour operators and we’re certain its clients admire and respect that policy. For us, the affiliation is huge and helps us look to the future with confidence we can deliver against key conservation programmes.”
To launch the fundraising initiative, Phil North presented Graham Buckingham with a cheque for £1,000.
Visit Dive Worldwide to discover its diverse range of international scuba adventures and visit Bite-Back to learn more about the charity’s campaigns.
MORE INFORMATION
Call Graham Buckingham on 07810 454 266 or email graham@bite-back.com
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