BIMINI
A group of islands known as Bimini lie about 50 miles from Miami and
105
miles from Nassau. The two main islands are North Bimini and South
Bimini.
The waters off Bimini are known as the "Big Game Fishing Capital of
the
World". They also offer excellent pan fishing and bone fishing.
Due to the small size of the islands, all dive sights can be reached
quickly
by boat. The best wall dives are off the west coast of Bimini, while
the barrier
reefs that surround the island are enriched with black coral
gardens, beautiful
sponges and blue holes.
For more information about the Bahamas visit the Bahamas Board of
Tourism’s official website –
www.bahamas.com
SAPONA
The Sapona, which was a ferro-concrete steamer is also known as the
Concrete Wreck. She was a 350 foot concrete hulled freighter,
designed by
Henry Ford and built in 1919 by Liberty Ship Building Co. in
Brunswick,
Ga. This 2,795 ton vessel was originally christened the Lone Star.
She was
one of a handful of ships built with steel reinforced concrete. This
type of
construction was done in an effort to conserve on precious steel
during
World War I.
Due to the extreme weight of this vessel, the Lone Star quickly
proved that
she was not cost efficient to operate and was sold soon after. A few
years
later, the Lone Star, which was by this time renamed Sapona, was
purchased
by a Bahamian who used the vessel to store prohibition whiskey. Rum
runners
would cruise to and from Florida picking up their illegal cargo from
the
Sapona, which was moored just offshore of Bimini.
ln 1926, a severe hurricane hit Bimini. Even though the Sapona had
been
moved to a safe protected area, she was -broken into two after being
bounced off of the sea bed by massive merciless waves.
During World War II, the Sapona was utilized once again, this time
as a target for bombing practice. Air Force and Navy planes flew
from Florida
to Bimini to drop bombs on the Sapona. Accuracy of their staffing
runs
were improved by firing 30 caliber bullets into her rusting hulk.
Today, the wreck of the Sapona rests in only 15 to 20 feet of water.
She
is seen by some as an ugly, rusting hulk sticking out of an
otherwise empty
sea, and by others as a wonderful underwater sanctuary for all types
of
marine creatures. Due to her depth, this site can be explored by
snorkelers
as well as scuba divers. Visitors of the Sapona will see yellow
tails, blue
tangs, puffer fish, stingrays, queen and French Angelfish,
barracudas, and
jacks. Just be careful of the fire coral which abounds on this
wreck.
Basic shipwreck
information and images for the Bahamas section of this site was
taken with permission from the book Tropical Shipwrecks by Daniel
and Denise Berg. You are invited to submit your shipwreck related
articles, images and information. As long as the text, photographs,
sketches etc are of professional quality we will showcase them. Full
credit will be provide and a same page link to your web site can be
arranged.
|
This
downloadable PDF e-book is packed with information and heavily
illustrated with over 80 sensational color photographs. Daniel
Berg, a noted wreck diver, instructor and author of ten
shipwrecks related books, describes all the basics of wreck
diving. Topics include everything from equipment
modifications, communication, and wreck penetration to
artifact preservation. Dan also tells how to navigate on a
wreck and be able to return to the anchor line after the dive.
Why some divers find more artifacts and explains how to catch
lobsters. Shipwreck Diving also covers such diverse topics as
shipwreck research, photography, spear fishing and how to use
an underwater metal detector. This exciting book tells all the
tricks of the trade that until now have only been learned
through years of experience. Shipwreck divers of all caliber
will find Shipwreck Diving informative, rewarding and
entertaining
