Carthaginian II Shipwreck Maui

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 comparable to the ships which initially delivered trade to the Hawaiian Islands. The vessel was a cement carrier built in Germany in early 1920 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 functioned 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.

Although the ship had no factual historical importance, the Carthaginian II was one of Lahaina's most recognizable attractions, featured in thousands of artworks and visitor pictures for more than thirty years. The ship belonged to the nonprofit Lahaina Restoration Foundation, that was spending $50,000 per year to preserve the decaying hulk. When marine engineers recommended against more repairs on account of the rising costs, Atlantis was approached to claim the vessel and make use of it as an artificial reef that would in turn enrich the existing Atlantis submarine excursions in Lahaina.The first Carthaginian was a imitation of a whaling supply vessel that was used for the 1966 film "Hawaii",; based on the novel by James Michner. The Lahaina Restoration Foundation bought the wooden ship, but it sank in 1972 on its voyage to O'ahu for dry dock. The German vessel was acquired and was rechristened the Carthaginian II and after extensive work functioned as a floating museum for many years. A flotilla of approximately 20 boats watched the Carthaginian II as it arrived at Puamana along with many spectators lining the seashore. A blessing was offered in Hawaiian and a 3 ton anchor was secured to the bow and seawater began to be pumped into the hull. Twenty seven minutes later the ship sank to the bottom amidst applause from the spectators and the blasts of three small brass cannons.

The Dive

The ship was reefed approximately seven years ago and currently supports a wide assortment of marine life. When you begin to descend from the mooring ball you should typically be able to observe the outline of the wreck rather easily. The visibility on this dive site is more often than not 80+ ft and a great deal of the time well over 100+ feet. The shipwreck is located in approximately 90 ft of water off the coast of Lahina and is a interesting location for underwater photography.

There can be some current on the site so a few divers might desire to descend by means of the mooring line. As you descend you should start to perceive more details regarding the shipwreck and the impacts of being on the reef for roughly 7 years. The main mast collapsed around mid-summer 2011 and will at this time be viewed sitting upon the main deck. The main cabin roof and walls have deteriorated to some level and there are many openings into the hold. The entrance to the cargo hold itself is rather large and easily manageable. The engine room along with the forward compartment is blocked by a gate but you may still get a respectable mix of photos from this section. The rear area of the cargo hold is fairly clear and at the present time should contain different fish species or crustaceans as they happen to be moving about the shipwreck. There happen to be a number of frogfish on the shipwreck. Smeltzer was able to photograph five different frogfish on his last dive. These fish are particularly well placed for macro photography and may use up a lot of bottom time, but 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. This shipwreck dive is best when there are fewer than 10 divers in the water given that the ship itself is not very big. While scuba diving on the wreck, you can also come across a ample variety of fish including, Pacific Trumpetfish, Sergeant Majors, Dascyllus, Orangespine Unicornfish, Rainbow Cleaner Wrasse, and many more. It is a interesting dive and is highly recommended for your next visit 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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