Bob Foster will discuss the planning and execution of the first dives to the Frank A Palmer and Louise B. Crary, two enormous coal schooners that collided and sank together in December, 1902 in what is now the Stellwagen Bank Underwater National Marine Sanctuary. The Palmer is believed to be the largest 4-masted schooner ever built at 274 ft. in length and a beam of 43 ft. In July of 2007 Bob and three other local divers became the first to visit these wrecks, which sit in 365FSW right here in our own backyard.
Bob has been an active diver since 1972, and became interested in wreck diving while living near the Great Lakes in the 80s. He has been searching for shipwrecks in Massachusetts Bay for the last 8 years, and has discovered and documented over 15 including the YF-415, Brenton Reef Lightship, and Augustus Snow. Bobs wreck diving interests have also taken him to Lake Superior and to the Florida Keys, as well as to New York/ New Jersey to dive the U-869 and the USS Spikefish.
While being one of the first divers on a new wreck is certainly a thrill, some of his most memorable dives are in the kelp forests off Monterey and the warm blue waters of Bimini and Puerto Rico.
Every meeting also features a raffle of various member-donated prizes. Prizes range from dive gear to DVDs, to antiques, to just about anything else. Tickets are cheap and prizes worthwhile.
Members start gathering in the bar around 6:30pm to socialize and grab a snack, and the actual meeting starts promptly at 7:30pm. During the meetings we will quickly go through the club business and reports, followed by Dive Talk and then a short break. The break is then immediately followed by the feature presentation.
Club meetings are held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1360 Worcester Road, Natick, MA. From the Mass Pike (I90) take Exit 13. Bear right after the toll booth. You'll be heading west on Route 30. At the second set of lights take a left (Shoppers World). You will be going through four sets of lights before you hit Route 9. After (AFTER!) the second set of lights bear left at the fork. You'll then come to the third and fourth set of lights. At the fourth set of lights you will be at Route 9 (the Circuit City will be across the street). Take a left onto Route 9 Eastbound. Very quickly you will see the Crown Plaza Hotel on your right.
Bob has been an active diver since 1972, and became interested in wreck diving while living near the Great Lakes in the 80s. He has been searching for shipwrecks in Massachusetts Bay for the last 8 years, and has discovered and documented over 15 including the YF-415, Brenton Reef Lightship, and Augustus Snow. Bobs wreck diving interests have also taken him to Lake Superior and to the Florida Keys, as well as to New York/ New Jersey to dive the U-869 and the USS Spikefish.
While being one of the first divers on a new wreck is certainly a thrill, some of his most memorable dives are in the kelp forests off Monterey and the warm blue waters of Bimini and Puerto Rico.
Every meeting also features a raffle of various member-donated prizes. Prizes range from dive gear to DVDs, to antiques, to just about anything else. Tickets are cheap and prizes worthwhile.
Members start gathering in the bar around 6:30pm to socialize and grab a snack, and the actual meeting starts promptly at 7:30pm. During the meetings we will quickly go through the club business and reports, followed by Dive Talk and then a short break. The break is then immediately followed by the feature presentation.
Club meetings are held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1360 Worcester Road, Natick, MA. From the Mass Pike (I90) take Exit 13. Bear right after the toll booth. You'll be heading west on Route 30. At the second set of lights take a left (Shoppers World). You will be going through four sets of lights before you hit Route 9. After (AFTER!) the second set of lights bear left at the fork. You'll then come to the third and fourth set of lights. At the fourth set of lights you will be at Route 9 (the Circuit City will be across the street). Take a left onto Route 9 Eastbound. Very quickly you will see the Crown Plaza Hotel on your right.
