SeaRovers Film Review -- Still on Her Keel, the Legacy of the Chester Poling

Please register or login

Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.

Benefits of registering include

  • Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
  • A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
  • You can make this box go away

Joining is quick and easy. Log in or Register now!

large_diver

Contributor
Messages
2,600
Reaction score
291
Location
Boston, MA USA European refugee
Still on her Keel – The Legacy of the Chester Poling

VIDEO PREVIEW


I had the chance recently to view an advance copy of this film, which will be debuted to the general public at the upcoming Sea Rovers dive show in Boston (presentation will be on Sunday, March 5 at 3:00PM – one of the daytime seminars). The video was shot and produced by Scubaboard’s very own Peacedog (Aaron), who will also be introducing his film at Sea Rovers.

The Chester Poling is a name that is familiar to almost anyone who dives regularly in New England. Located several hundred yards off the Dog Bar breakwater just outside of Gloucester harbor, the stern half of the Poling is a wreck that that has been visited by thousands of divers during the past few decades. The Poling represents a classic New England wreck diving experience – dark, cold and deep. She lies upright and intact on the bottom in 100 feet of water, covered in anemones and home to a variety of marine life. For many area divers, she is the first wreck and/or deep diving experience they’ve had in their diving careers, serving as the destination for many a wreck, deep or AOW course.

Still on Her Keel tells multiple stories about the past and present of the Poling, from both above and below the water.

The first storyline is certainly the physical story of the wreck – the intense storm in 1977 that broke her in half, the loss of life that occurred during her sinking, and her amazing “re-location” at the hands of the Blizzard of ’78.

The second is a diving story about three friends who shared a special underwater adventure together – exploring a virgin shipwreck. These three local divers (Paul Adler, Jack Hinz, and John Butler) were among the first to dive on the Poling shortly after she went down. The film includes the original footage they took during some of their first few dives on the wreck, juxtaposed with present day footage. Very cool to see the original catwalk with railings and chains intact, shots of the stern with the ship’s name clearly visible, and views of the deck of what was clearly a new wreck…with tools and other debris strewn about as if put down by seamen still patrolling her decks.

These three divers became separated by time and middle age – this film project reunites them as they re-explore the wreck they first pioneered so many years ago.

I’d highly recommend this DVD to anyone who has dove the Poling and is interested in her history. The DVD includes the film itself as well as several “special features” that are both entertaining and informative. I am not sure of Aaron’s exact plans for sale of the film – he should be providing more details at the film’s debut.

Trailer for the film --
http://www.nimbusaudio.com/portfolio.html

For information about Sea Rovers – tickets and schedule:
http://www.searovers.org/

-Chris
 
Chris, thank you nice thread.
Looking forward for Sea Rovers Weekend
 
Sea Rovers Weekend? What is this?
 
Wish I could be there and dive the Poling again. My first dive onto the Poling was my AOW class and during my ascent we were in a school of spiny dog fish. Its been 10 years since then, but I still tell my scuba friends that story.
 
Sea Rovers is a large dive show that consists of many elements. It usually starts with some preliminary events Friday night; Saturday and Sunday are the main events. This year the event is being held on the weekend of March 4-5. Most of the daytime events are held at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Copley Square. Some of the events to note are as follows:

- Daytime seminars -- during the day on both Saturday and Sunday, lecturers give presentations on a wide range of topics. Subjects include exotic dive locations (this year = Bonaire, Solomon Islands, Costa Rica/Cocos Island, Loch Ness, Guadalupe Island, St. Vincent), wreck diving (U-869, Great Lakes shipwrecks, Chester Poling, Edmund Fitzgerald, wrecks of Mass Bay, USS Perry, Empress of Ireland, the Russian nuke sub Kursk), military/law enforcement diving, shark cage diving, various phtography technique presentations, New England shore diving, artificial reef building in Boston Harbor -- it really is a fantastic selection of topics (42 total presentations during the day on Sat-Sunday) with some well-credentialed presenters. Each presentation lasts about an hour. Here is the link to the full list:

http://www.searovers.org/public.html?D=52Daytime&OD=Home&T=1140595839

- Sat Night Film presentation -- On Saturday evening, there is a film presentation that typically runs from 8-10:30PM (held in the "old" John Hancock building a few blocks from Copley). Presenters tend to be a "who's who" of underwater filmmaking. Often presenters are debuting stuff before it is presented on Discovery Channel, etc. I've seen everything from whale sex to killer whale pack hunting to presentations of underwater B/W photography to film of a tall ship sailing around the tip of S. America (used in the film Master & Commander). Bottom line -- if you like diving and marine life film/photography, it is a great event. There is also an after-hours party where you can meet the presenters. Good raffle too, with giveaways including full sets of dive gear and liveaboard trips (friend I was sitting with 3 years ago won a Peter Hughes liveaboard trip).

http://www.searovers.org/public.html?D=52FilmFestival&OD=52Daytime&T=1140595843

- Exhibit Hall -- your standard dive trade show exhibit booths, with manufacturers, liveaboards, dive shops, dive clubs, local charter operators, and resort operators presenting their wares (some offering show pricing specials). Good place to shop for new gear. When I bought my first drysuit a few years ago, I went to the DUI booth and was able to try on any size/model I was interested in right there on the floor. The DUI rep took my measurements for a custom suit..which I then brought to a local shop.

List of exhibitors:
http://www.searovers.org/public.html?D=52Exhibitors&OD=Home&T=1140597275

There are also other events such as a display of technical dive gear and training workshops (regulator servicing , tank inspection, etc.).

All in all, a fun event -- it is the largest dive industry show in Boston. Especially if you aren't doing much diving during the winter, it is yet another way to get your diving "fix". Also fun in that the diving world is a pretty small place -- I always bump into people I know there. Also fun to be able to meet famous filmmakers, authors, etc.

I highly recommend it.

Chris
 
Hi, gang. Just wanted to let everyone know that the DVD version of the film is curently available online.

Contains the full-length film as well as over 40 minutes of deleted scenes/outtakes, fully interactive menus and 3 slideshows.
 
tried to get the trailer and i can't? I am really interested in this film, but it would be nice to see a sneak peak. I re-downloaded quicktime and still nothing.
 
PeaceDog:
Hi, gang. Just wanted to let everyone know that the DVD version of the film is curently available online.

Contains the full-length film as well as over 40 minutes of deleted scenes/outtakes, fully interactive menus and 3 slideshows.


Just got it, looking forward to see it, take care PeaceDog, keep it up.
 

Back
Top Bottom