Discovering shipwrecks from your desktop

[Cthippo]

in the "Wreck or Rock" post I talked about using online open source resources to locate wrecks and try and characterize them. A lot of you were interested in the process I use for this and so I have put together the first of two videos on it. In the first video we will look at using Google Earth, importing data from open source databases, and verifying wrecks with the NOAA bathymetry site. In the second video, we will learn how to export data from the bathymetry site back into Google Earth and use the tools in GE to learn more about targets.


Links mentioned in the video:

Google Earth: earth.google.com

AWOIS and ENC databases: nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/data/wrecks-and-obstructions.html

Bathymetry data: ncei.noaa.gov/maps/bathymetry/

So, here is your homework. Using the tools in the video, find and document a wreck near you, or one you would like to dive on and post it to this thread. Questions are always welcome!

 

[happy-diver]

Nice!

Found a shipwreck here the other day

Had some help

Falls of Halladale - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[100days-a-year]

I use arcgis and arcgis Earth. You can load any georeferenced files you may have or search the extensive collection already available.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I've used arcgis, but Google Earth has enough wrecks and reefs to keep me busy for a long time. I love that you can zoom in underwater to get a 3D image with exact coordinates. It makes finding an anchor spot very easy.

 

[Eric802]

Cool, I've added that to my "watch later".

 

[Cthippo]

Does ArcGIS do GeoTIFF? There is a section on the bathymetry page that says you can export parts of that database as GeoTIFF files, but that is way above my knowledge. That said, if someone knows how to do that perhaps we could collaborate on a future video.

 

[Beau Holden]

Way cool and thanks for sharing!

 

[Tassi Devil Diver]

I have been using QGIS to access multibeam Geo TIFFs from Geoscience Australia Portal , mostly looking for deep reefs features to explore, not many wrecks in my region.

 

[100days-a-year]

Geotiff, .bag and acs/xyz files have all worked for me. Can overlay gpx as well.

 

[Vicko]

Publicly available bathymetric surveys will put me out of business, poor fishes.