Spiegel Grove uprighted by Hurricane Dennis !!??

[Gary D.]

Just another example of a US Navy Ship not giving up.

Gary D.

 

[Kupu]

Excellent! What a great excuse to return to the keys. Guess it is my duty to head on down and see what all the fuss is about!

 

[gpatton]

http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/local/12109510.htm

Dennis fixes problem with largest ship sunk as artificial reef

Associated Press

KEY LARGO, Fla. - In the wake of Hurricane Dennis, a man-made mistake with the largest intentionally sunk ship in the world was found Monday to have been put right.

The former USS Spiegel Grove, now serving as artificial reef on the bottom in 130 feet of water off Key Largo, flipped upright as the core of the storm passed well over 200 miles to the west.

It's a position project organizers wanted since the retired 510-foot Landing Ship Dock prematurely sank and rolled over May 17, 2002, leaving its upside-down bow protruding from the water.

Three weeks later, a salvage team managed to fully sink the vessel, but on its right side instead of its keel. Three years later, the Spiegel Grove is the most popular artificial wreck in the Florida Keys, home at least 166 different fish species, said Lad Akins of the Reef Environmental Education Foundation.

"I'm flabbergasted," Rob Bleser, volunteer project director, said Monday afternoon after a dive on the newly oriented Spiegel Grove. "Nature took its course and put it where it belongs."

"This will mean a whole new dive for those that have dove it before," Bleser said. Its highest point is now 60 feet down.

Words of delight about the Spiegel Grove moved quickly through the Florida Keys' sport dive industry, but at least one federal official was not happy.

"It's bad news from my perspective as a resource manager that it moved," said Billy Causey, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Superintendent. "We have to figure out why."

Given the Spiegel Grove is upright, I have mixed emotions about the changed situation.

I was the "Safety Officer" on the intial sinking of the Spiegel, so I know having the Spiegel resting on its starboard side was not the initial plan. However the Spiegel turned out to be an excellent marine habitat. The fish loved the Spiegel the way it was on its starboard side. The presents of the aquatic life on the Spiegel made it very special. Hopefully the fish will still love it.....

The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary management looks at the situation as "Bad News" and not being in control. The most important issue of the Spiegel ultimately and significantly benefiting the marine habitat may be diminished in thier eyes, however I think the fish will still love the habitat created by the Spiegel...

In my opinion, no matter which way the Spiegel rests on the bottom the fish will love it. The Spiegel will benefit the marine habitat off Key Largo, it is just a matter of how much.... Stay tuned pics coming soon!!

Glenn

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

wow

 

[DennisS]

It looks like they want to make sure its stable before they let divers on it.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-spiegel12jul12,0,7169049.story

 

[KBeck]

It looks like they want to make sure its stable before they let divers on it.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-spiegel12jul12,0,7169049.story

That's great.........so, how fast CAN they make sure it's stable?!?....weather's looking promising for this weekend, man.....we south Floridians have to fit our dives in between storms these days, ya know!!!!! (Taps feet impatiently.......).

 

[Tobagoman]

Just call me the eternal pessimist, but until I see it upright or a convincing unmanipulated picture, it will be hard for me to believe. If it is true, then I need to start making plans to come down and dive it this season, before the next hurricane completely buries it or something else bizzare!

 

[mike_s]

Wouldn't it be ironic if Tropical Storm Emily (now in the south Caribbean) flipped it back on it's side. Even it's "other side" and there was only a week or two of diving that people were able to get in before she flipped again?

Just makes you wanna go hmmmmmm....

 

[DennisW]

I would think that the ship would be more stable upright than on it's side. In any case, now I've got to go dive it again.

 

[cudachaser]

Just talked to Ocean Divers....Yes the SG is upright!