Scuba Diving Maui - Carthaginian II
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. The Carthaginian II, previously used as a whaling museum, is a reproduction of a 19th century brig similar to the ships which initially brought trade to the Hawaiian Islands. This vessel was a cement carrier built in Germany in the 1920's and renamed the Carthaginian II. It sailed to Lahaina in 1973 where it took seven years for the historically correct 18th century whaling ship rigging to be assembled. The ship served as a reminder of Lahaina's maritime heritage and was docked for many 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.
Atlantis spent approximately $350,000 on the Carthaginian shipwreck project, including preparation of environmental studies. American Marine Services was employed to conduct the sinking operation. Before the Carthaginian II was towed from Lahaina Harbor, entertainers from the Old Lahaina Lu'au performed "Aloha" ; and members of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation placed lei on the ship and held signs bidding it aloha. To prepare for the sinking, 10 tons of concrete had been loaded on board, adding to the 35 tons of material the vessel already was carrying. Atlantis' small tugboat Roxie pulled the Carthaginian II out of the harbor before transferring the operation to the larger American Islander tugboat. A flotilla of about 20 boats was waiting when the Carthaginian II arrived at Puamana, and spectators lined the beach or pulled over on the Honoapi'ilani Highway to observe the show. Kahu Charles Kaupu provided a Hawaiian blessing, and after a 3-ton anchor was secured to the bow and the boat was in position, patches were removed from two sets of holes that had been cut into the hull about 18 inches above the water line. Seawater was pumped into the ship, and twenty seven minutes later the Carthaginian was headed toward the sandy bottom and a new shipwreck was born. Observers let loose with applause and whoops of appreciation as the ship silently slipped beneath the surface. On board the Atlantis shuttle boat three air-shattering blasts were fired from small brass cannon to celebrate the occasion.
Examination of the Dive
The ship was reefed approximately 7 years ago and now supports a extensive range of marine life. Once you start to descend from the mooring ball you should typically be able to observe the outline of the shipwreck relatively easily. The visibility at this dive site is typically 80+ feet and a great deal of the time over 100+ ft. The shipwreck rests in about 90 feet of water off the coast of Lahina and is a excellent site for underwater photography.
There may be some current on this site so some scuba divers may desire to descend by means of the mooring line. As you descend you should begin to notice additional particulars regarding the shipwreck and the impacts of being upon the reef for approximately seven years. The main mast collapsed around mid-summer 2011 and can now be viewed sitting on the main deck. The main cabin roof and walls have begun to decay to some degree and there are several holes into the cargo hold. The entrance to the hold itself is very large and easily accessible. The engine room and forward compartment is blocked by a gate however you may still get a good variety of shots in this area. The rear section of the cargo hold is absolutely clear and at the present time should include different fish species or crustaceans as they are moving about the ship. There happen to be a number of frogfish on the wreck. Smeltzer was able to photograph 5 different frogfish on his last dive. These fish are particularly well placed for macro photography and may use up a lot of bottom time, nevertheless it is well worth the effort. Two frogfish were upon the main deck to the back of the main cabin and 3 were on the starboard side about the midships area. it for your next trip 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...
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