Rimap??

[GottaDive]

Has anyone had any experience with the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project aka RIMAP? I have heard mixed reviews of the organization, but it seems like something that I would like to be involved in. I see they are now working with the URI Institute for Archaeological Oceanography which in my eyes, gives them a heap of legitimacy. Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated.

~Steve~

 

[wreckedinri]

My experience with them WAS (and this may have changed) that we could not dive with the buddy of our choice. We were "given" a buddy to dive with, and they were changed each time we dived. I didn't stick with the program for long. I was put off by the whole "don't trust anyone attitude". In fairness, this may have changed, as it was a dozen years ago or so when friends and I got involved with them. What I do know is that they are attempting to have several significant size areas of RI state waters in the Newport area put "off limits" to divers.

IMHO, over all, I do not consider them friends of the diving community.

Dennis St Germain

 

[ScubaSarus]

Hi there Wreck

Did you mean they are trying to keep certain areas exclusive to only certain groups.

If anyone one watched the Nat'l Geo. documentary "Cival War Gold" you would realize why you wanna explore the Newport Wrecks and keep others out. They hit the jackpot on that cival war passenger liner.

 

[wreckedinri]

Hi there Wreck

Did you mean they are trying to keep certain areas exclusive to only certain groups.

If anyone one watched the Nat'l Geo. documentary "Cival War Gold" you would realize why you wanna explore the Newport Wrecks and keep others out. They hit the jackpot on that cival war passenger liner.

So they think. There is no conclusive proof.

What if the next target of these "guardians of national treasures and heritage" was to ban diving on the u-boat or the Blackpoint? What about the wreck of the Rhode Island? The list could go on and on. Would you then be so cavalier about the notion of shutting down areas to divers? Forgive my suspicions regarding the "protective" acts of our government, but historically, once a special interest group gets a policy implemented, it's typically expanded. Many see their "findings" as merely a way to procure more funding.

 

[Gilldiver]

Some in RIMAP can be difficult, to very difficult to work with. It is the old archaeologist vs diver thing.

If you want to work with a gret guy and diver I can put you in touch with Dave Robinson of the Public Archaeology Lab (PAL). He has been doing work around RI for a while and was working on the ruins of a lighthouse last summer.

As for RIMAP and the U-boat, it is not in RI waters and they can't do a thing about it directly. I think they wanted to get the Germans to request a restriction on diving but the Germans just don't care all that much about WWII boats. The Hitler years seem to be something the new German Navy (post 1945) just wants to forget.

RIMAP is the reason the props from the U-boat got moved to a wearhouse at the Naval War College where no one can see them without getting a appointment that has to be made at least 2 days in advance, if at all.

 

[Sean222]

Has anyone had any experience with the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project aka RIMAP? I have heard mixed reviews of the organization, but it seems like something that I would like to be involved in. I see they are now working with the URI Institute for Archaeological Oceanography which in my eyes, gives them a heap of legitimacy. Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated.

~Steve~

I completely agree with everything Dennis and Peter have said. In fact based on my personal experience with this group I would recommend not getting involved with them at all. If you send me a private email I would be happy to give you the details.
There are some individuals in the group that think that they should have exclusive use
of what is a public resource.

 

[Sean222]

Some in RIMAP can be difficult, to very difficult to work with. It is the old archaeologist vs diver thing.

If you want to work with a gret guy and diver I can put you in touch with Dave Robinson of the Public Archaeology Lab (PAL). He has been doing work around RI for a while and was working on the ruins of a lighthouse last summer.

As for RIMAP and the U-boat, it is not in RI waters and they can't do a thing about it directly. I think they wanted to get the Germans to request a restriction on diving but the Germans just don't care all that much about WWII boats. The Hitler years seem to be something the new German Navy (post 1945) just wants to forget.

RIMAP is the reason the props from the U-boat got moved to a wearhouse at the Naval War College where no one can see them without getting a appointment that has to be made at least 2 days in advance, if at all.

Pete I agree with you on all counts. I know Dave fairly well.

 

[GottaDive]

That's kind of what I had heard outside of SB. Too bad!

Pete, I would love to get in touch with Dave. Dan at OSS in Jamestown told me about PAL when I asked about RIMAP, but he wasn't sure how to contact him. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys.
~Steve~

 

[Sean222]

That's kind of what I had heard outside of SB. Too bad!

Pete, I would love to get in touch with Dave. Dan at OSS in Jamestown told me about PAL when I asked about RIMAP, but he wasn't sure how to contact him. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys.
~Steve~

Call Dave at OSS. I have his number around here somewhere but I am off to work.
If you still don't have it by the end of tonight send me a private email and I can get it for you. We both live here in Jamestown.

 

[Gilldiver]

The PAL web site is: http://www.palinc.com/

As for RIMAP, they have to potential to become a great org. But with the people at the top that they have, it is my opinion that they will only stay where they are, a small local org with little to show.

With 2 f Cook's ships in their back yard, a simple media program should be able to get big things done.