In October, a 3-day expedition onboard the NOAA R/V Shearwater to record submerged maritime heritage resources was completed at the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Site surveys included searching for the F/V Dante Alighieri II, lost in 1938 at Santa Barbara Island and submerged sites below the original lighthouse structure at the northern end of the island.

Valley Anchorage, Santa Cruz Island site of the Cold War Shore facility.
Photo credit: Robert V. Schwemmer, NOAA-CINMS

Channel Islands NMS Research Coordinator Steve Katz (left) and his diving partner Patrick Smith, a volunteer with the Coastal Maritime Archaeology Resource group on board the R/V Shearwater after completing a dive on one of the buoys. 

Photo credits: Robert V Schwemmer, NOAA-CINMS

Steve Katz videotaping one of the Cold War era mooring buoys at Valley Anchorage. Photo credit: Robert V Schwemmer, NOAA-CINMS

The science team then relocated to Valley Anchorage, Santa Cruz Island to search for the submerged remnants related to the Cold War era shore facility at the anchorage. Although the team of divers did not locate a dive chamber used to splice wiring from the shore facility to offshore hydrophone monitoring stations that tracked enemy submarines and communicated with submerged U.S. Navy submarines, the dive team did locate two mooring buoys used at the site by General Motors' Delco-Remy scientist. The large submerged buoys now provide habitat for the diversified marine like community including Giant Sea Bass, The shipwreck reconnaissance program, in collaboration with the Channel Islands Sanctuary, Channel Islands National Park, Coastal Maritime Archaeology Resources volunteer organization and the Stage of California, dates back to the 1980s.

Photo credit: Robert V. Schwemmer, NOAA-CINMS

Photo credit: Robert V. Schwemmer, NOAA-CINMS

Steve Katz and Patrick Smith should have stayed in thier wetsuits as they grill dinner for the science team during a rain squall off Santa Cruz Island. Photo credit: Robert V. Schwemmer, NOAA-CINMS