Carthaginian II Shipwreck Maui
The Carthaginian II, previously used as a whaling museum, is a reproduction of a 19th century brig analogous to the ships that first introduced commerce to the Hawaiian Islands. This vessel was a cement carrier constructed in Germany in early 1920 and renamed the Carthaginian II. It sailed to Lahaina in 1973 where it took seven years for the historically accurate 18th century whaling ship rigging to be assembled. The ship served as a reminder of Lahaina's maritime heritage and was docked for numerous years at Lahaina Harbor. The ship was owned by the Lahaina Restoration Foundation which operated the museum on board that displayed relics of Lahaina's historic whaling days. On December 13, 2005, following two years of preparation, Atlantis Adventures sank the Carthaginian off Lahaina, Maui, creating an artificial reef that will have lasting marine life benefits. The reefing took place off Puamana which is just outside the Lahaina harbor. The 97-foot, steel-hulled vessel, sank in 95 feet of water where it will serve as an artificial reef.
Even though it had no true historical worth, the Carthaginian II was one of Lahaina's most identifiable points of interest, featured in thousands of artworks and visitor pictures for over 30 years. The vessel belonged to the nonprofit Lahaina Restoration Foundation, that was spending $50,000 per year to maintain the decaying hulk. At what time marine engineers advised against more repairs due to the increasing costs, Atlantis was approached to claim the ship and make use of it as an artificial reef which should in turn enrich the existing Atlantis submarine excursions in Lahaina.The first Carthaginian was a replica of a whaling supply ship used for the 1966 movie "Hawaii",; based on the James Michener novel. The Lahaina Restoration Foundation purchased the wooden ship, but it sank in 1972 on its way to O'ahu for dry dock. The German ship was acquired and was renamed the Carthaginian II and after extensive work served the city as a floating museum for numerous years. A flotilla of about twenty boats watched the Carthaginian II as it arrived at Puamana along with many spectators lining the shore. A blessing was given in Hawaiian and a 3 ton anchor was secured to the bow and seawater began to be pumped into the hull. Twenty seven minutes afterward the vessel sank to the bottom amidst applause from the viewers and the blasts of 3 tiny brass cannons.
Examination of the Dive
The shipwreck rests in approximately 90 feet of water off the coast of Lahina and is a excellent site for underwater photography. It is roughly a ten to 15 minute trip from the harbor to the scuba diving site. The ship was reefed about 7 years ago and at this time provides a home for a wide mix of marine life. As soon as you begin to descend from the mooring ball you will usually be able to see the outline of the shipwreck quite easily. The visibility at this dive site is typically 80+ feet and a great deal of the time in excess of 100+ feet.
The main mast collapsed in mid-summer 2011 and will currently be viewed resting upon the main deck. The main cabin roof and walls have begun to decay to some degree and there are several holes into the hold. The access to the hold itself is rather large and easily accessible. The engine room and forward compartment is blocked by a gate but you should still get a respectable range of shots in this area. There are several frogfish on the wreck. Smeltzer was able to photograph five different frogfish on my last dive. These fish are extremely well positioned for macro photographs and may consume a lot of bottom time, nevertheless it is definitely worth the effort. This wreck dive is best when there are fewer than 10 divers in the water since the vessel itself is not very large. While scuba diving on the wreck, you should also find a wide variety of fish including, Pacific Trumpetfish, Sergeant Majors, Dascyllus, Orangespine Unicornfish, Rainbow Cleaner Wrasse, and much more. It is a meaningful dive and is highly recommended for your next journey to Maui.
View other underwater photography images by Steven Smeltzer on his website or visit his blog or follow him on Twitter @ images2inspire. The pool is open...
About the Author
Tell others about
this page:
Comments? Questions? Email Here