News
Taking on Truk: The Fujikawa Maru (Watch Video)
In the first of three videos from their recent trip to Truk Lagoon, Richard and Hayley from Black Manta Photography share this incredible footage of the wreck of the Fujikawa Maru.
The Fujikawa Maru is readily accessible to divers, and one of the more shallow wrecks in Truk Lagoon. You’ll find the top of her superstructure a few metres under the surface, with her 133m long structure sitting upright in only 35m of water.
The Fujikawa was used as an aircraft supply freighter throughout the war efforts, and had in fact just unloaded 30 Jill torpedo bombers onto Eten Island airfield when she was struck by a single torpedo during the attack of ‘Operation Hailstone’. She was still carrying four Zero fighters, and a host of aircraft parts.
You really are spoilt diving the wreck of the Fujikawa – best covered over two dives to uncover the treasures this impressive wreck has to offer, as taking your time is a must!
The guts of the wreck reveal a series of gantrys that house huge walls of switches and valves, along with gauges, a telephone and the all too famous ‘R2-D2’ compressor – affectionately named after the Star Wars robot due to the two dials on the face of the machine that resemble two popping robotic eyes.
The vast holds hide an array of aeroplane parts that MacGyver would have a field day with, and in amongst the dozens of spare propellers, plane fuselages, and wheels you are rewarded with four Japanese fighter planes – the remnants of paint still visible but fully intact, and a perfect insight into the cockpit displaying the dials and levers, with the frame of the seat still in place.
The assortment of items resemble a military garage sale, and you can get lost on the number of ammunition shells and bullets strewn around, but most impressive must be an entire cargo hold full of beer bottles – thousands and thousands of them!
However, it’s up on deck that you become really impressed by the creative work of Mother Nature. The decks and masts are awash with corals and giant table anemones, and the two old English Vickers Armstrong 6 inch guns that sit on the deck are generously decorated with so many options of colours and types of coral that you forget you are looking at a ‘thing of war’.
The crossbar to the impressive king-posts is a marine micro city for a myriad of marine creatures, and if you time the dive right to complete your safety stop as day is turning to dusk, you will be rewarded with the most beautiful scene of soft coral bathing in the low sunlight that will be hard to beat!
Most certainly one of our favourite wrecks of the trip, and in all honesty the two dives and 160 mins spent underwater just didn’t seem enough – we really could have dived her all week and never been bored…
For more from Richard and Hayley visit www.blackmantaphotography.com.
After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.
People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.
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- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
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- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
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- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
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- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
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- Silky Street by ScapaJoe
The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.
One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.
Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:
https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24
Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.
Find out more here:
https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31
Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”
Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden
Cozy and warm in cold water.
It’s drysuit season all year round. With the new RS series premium drysuits from DYNAMICNORD, divers are perfectly equipped for all cold waters.
The sophisticated cut of the RS drysuits allows complete freedom of movement, providing maximum comfort. The high-quality 350 g/m² ripstop material with double ripstop zones on the elbows, knees, and crotch protect ensures extreme robustness as well as long life.
The suit’s features leave nothing to be desired: A high-quality TiZip zipper, easily adjustable inlet and outlet valves, upgradeable with electrically heated underwear, HP bottleneck cuffs made of high-strength latex on the wrists, a 3mm neoprene neck cuff for maximum comfort, a 7mm hood with air outlet and 3mm boots made of double-sided, cross-layered neoprene with ankle straps and fin strap stoppers and a protective but very flexible sole.
Noteworthy is the Molle fastening system, which can be used in a variable and compatible manner. This way, the two detachable leg pockets can be attached easily, safely and comfortably.
Alterations of boots to a different shoe size or adjustments to neck or wrist cuffs are done free of charge at the own DYNAMICNORD service centre in Germany in only a couple of days.
The matching Dynaskins made with high-quality Polartec® technology are available in various designs. As an undersuit under the drysuit, as a single suit in warm waters or as a two-piece suit. Polartec® technology’s main features are neutral buoyancy, breathablilty and quick-drying.
Dynaskins are made largely from recycled plastic bottles.
The drysuit RS-351 for men and RS-352 for women are now available at your DYNAMICNORD dealer and in the online store.
Colors men and women: Black-Blue and Black-Burgundy
Sizes men: XS-4XL incl. intermediate sizes MS, MT, MLS, MLT, LS, LT, XLS, XLT, 2XLS, 3XLS, 4XLS
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DYNAMICNORD – Your Outdoor Companion.
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