The press release on the PADI site is wrong. The previous draft NOAA press release that got out (which PADI based theirs on) was also wrong. NOAA recently issued an accurate press release which presents the facts; those that have seen it may have noticed there was no mention of artifact theft.
Here is the bottom line:
No artifacts were pillaged, looted, or stolen.
Due to that erroneous draft press release there was a lot of rumor, innuendo, and speculation. Furthermore, several individuals (other divers) took it upon themselves to spread rumors and flat out lies about myself and others to start some trouble. This is one of the reasons I have not discussed this project until the information was officially released.
BACKGROUND
After an AUE dive we did in February, we mentioned that we did not observe a couple key artifacts we noticed on earlier dives at the site. However, we were clear in pointing out that we were working on other areas of the ship, documenting other diagnostic features and only briefly swam past the area where they were located (where we secured our shotline). The Principal Investigator and I both stated strongly that we wanted to confirm if anything was disturbed before saying anything officially. We were pretty sure that we had just missed them, as we had a pretty good idea how little attention the wreck was getting and knew the few other people who were diving on it. Unfortunately, we were unable to confirm anything for better or worse in February as the next dive was cancelled. Our next scheduled dives on the site were not for several weeks.
Well, in the interim an overzealous individual (not associated with the project dives) got tunnel vision and was convinced the site was looted and put language in that draft press release. The initial problem started when that erroneous draft press release -- which was sent to KADO (Keys Association of Dive Operators) for review -- was forwarded to the Rodales Board and then several e-mail lists. It clearly stated on the top of the original copy that it was a draft, not for release (which the particular Florida Keys dive business/individual neglected to mention). It was sent to KADO to get input about getting their help as intermediaries to recover artifacts during an amnesty period (versus NOAA). Furthermore, it was not cleared by the principals doing the work. When it came out we were a bit concerned to say the least. Then the rumors flew...
The following B.S. spread by a couple of other divers tarnished the whole project for myself and several others. We had spent a lot of time, effort, and money working to identify this wreck and a couple people did everything they could to derail that work out of pettiness, spite, and jealousy. At one point several of us wished we had never heard of the Queen of Nassau. While everyone inside of the loop knew the truth, some of the calls got elevated to people that had no involvement or information at all on the project and they started demanding answers. It got uncomfortable for several people due to all the miscommunication.
Our next dives confirmed that everything was fine and dandy -- all the artifacts of concern were right were they always were.
The dive team recovered several artifacts under a NOAA authorized and archaelogically sound research plan. The large forward mast running light, portions of a running light lantern, china, and a ceramic creamer were recovered and are undergoing conservation in Tallahasee. They will then be displayed in the Keys at a site to be determined. There is also talk of a display at the maritime museum in Halifax, Nova Scotia (the CGS Canada was stationed there), which we all think is very fitting and perhaps even more appropriate than a Keys display.
That's about it. The Queen of Nassau link and pictures are back up on the AUE website if anyone wants to read about the ship's background and see a lot of pictures.
http://www.mikey.net/aue/canada.htm
The project will also be discussed in upcoming issues of several dive magazines.