Diver may have found boat from Sandy Island accident (using Humminbird 997)

[Darren in NC]

I guess I shouldn't have made such a blanket statement. I know there are decent folks who work for the gov't, but the bad apples sure don't make the rest look too good.

...I found it to be the most underhanded, backstabbing, vicious and disgraceful place I have ever worked.

Sorry you have to work in such a messed up environment. Unfortunately, I have found this to be the case among the treasure hunting crowd, too. I have worked hard to surround myself with guys and gals who don't act this way. David and Robert are two men I trust implicitly. Way to go, guys!

 

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[Chagy]

Rob and David,

Nice work guys!!!!...I'm proud of both of you...looking forward to working with you guys this summer and hopefully we will make headlines again...but this time with a treasure wreck

All the best,

Chagy.....

 

[go deep]

RGECY Proud to have met you TAKE CARE GO DEEP

 

[xXx]

I also work for the Government, in law enforcement. Although the search we did was not within the County I work, I was praised at our briefing yesterday.
I didn't like the fact that DNR treated me the way they did. The office of DNR that was involved happens to also be the same office that covers the county I work in as well as several other counties in the state. Robert, they also cover Beaufort and all the counties in-between us (Charleston and Georgetown where the boat was).
Obviously they fealt we made them all look like they didn't know what they were doing. With that said, we gave them the EXACT coordinates of the boat in question and it looks like they STILL went to the wrong boat wreck on the river bed. The boat that sank had an Evenrude Engine, and the one they dove on after we told them where to go was a Johnson. They did take the cowling off the engine and bring it back to shore. Robert confirmed the one we dove on was an Evenrude and gave the Hull # before we had any idea what these items were. They said the engine and Hull # was correct, but still brought up a Johnson cowling
They are planning to raise the boat they dove on to finish their investigation. I guess we'll know more at 9:00 in the morning when they bring the boat out of the water?
xXx
David
www.treasureexpo.com

 

[xXx]

Here's the photo of DNR with the "Johnson" motor cover.

 

[ScubaDude]

They're likely not happy that you undermined them by conducting your own "project" and didn't bother to let anyone know till they read it in the paper. That has a tendency to upset people. Instead of a productive, cooperative trip, they are getting their nose rubbed in things.

We've done a fair amount of this type stuff in the past. It really helps to make friends and influence people when you call ahead of time and offer help. Most of the people we've helped will help us when we need it as a result.

Next time maybe leave a marker buoy attached the correct boat, save em some time and frustration. Better yet call them before you go and they'll be there with you to get it right the first time.

 

[TidePool]

They're likely not happy that you undermined them by conducting your own "project" and didn't bother to let anyone know till they read it in the paper. That has a tendency to upset people. Instead of a productive, cooperative trip, they are getting their nose rubbed in things.

"The men mapped the coordinates of the boat and contacted DNR with their find. "
I dont think that Robert gave that info to the media first and THEN the DNR, or just let them find out from a newspaper/broadcast all together.

The article states that this accident happened one month ago. That seems like plenty of time to locate the boat if they were serious about it- they had eye witnesses as to the area roughly where the boat went down.

Don't like "getting their nose rubbed in things"? Show me exactly what they did to locate this vessel in those 30 days- if it took Robert only 30 minutes to find it, maybe they should take some of the stimulus package $$$ and get a side scan and Robert's software- 30 minutes vs 30 days= HUGE savings, and they could have been the Rock Stars for the day!

Great job Robert!

 

[signumops]

Robert, et al:

You did the right thing.

Every seaboard state has a squad of water nazis who believe that they rule the waves in all things "under the law" (considering where we live, what has NOT been subjected to law ?).

I repeat, "There is nothing quite as dangerous as an underpaid bureaucrat with too much discretionary power".

Government service providers practice their craft subjectively rather than objectively more often than not when faced with seemingly impossible tasks. This idiom applies at all levels of government... just watch the national news.

Did you get the old "chain of evidence" argument?

I speak from the bully pulpit: 20 years in law enforcment, including years of work as a volunteer in the Boone-Kenton Water Rescue Team; 12 years as a resident of the lower Keys where I was not only a deputy of the Sheriff's Office, but a party to frequent encounters with the Marine Patrol; 9 additional years with another element of county government devoted to tax functions.

Incidentally, I am also looking for a sonar unit, and your experiences are driving me toward the Hummingbird. Thanks!

 

[psdiver]

Here is a trick we use to locate a target in zero vis. We drop a smal metal dog kennel with a bouy line. We then move the kennel till it is next to the target. Works very well and saves time.

 

[xXx]

When we found the target, the very first thing I did was to call DNR. I let them know that we had located the target, and at that time they seemed very appreciative. They didn't start acting upset until the news started covering the story. Shoot, it made a great local story, and even went statewide to other papers around South Carolina. You can understand why they got upset, but they really shouldn't have dropped the ball in the first place. What I did was from the heart, to make an attempt to help in their investigation and try to give some closure to the families of those lost in the incident. Nobody told me to look for this boat, and I think Robert was even a little skeptical when I first told him I wanted to look for it.
A very good thing has come out of this, from DNR. As of yesterday, at the town meeting on the island, the DNR stated they would do everything possible to ensure their vessels used to cross from the main land are in shape. The DNR will be conducting inspections of all the boats they use (without consequences). In other words, they are going to let them know what they need to do to make these boats safe again. If you saw what they are using to cross to their homes every day, you would be amazed that anyone on the island is still alive.
There has also been talk about a donated pontoon boat used to ferry the families across. This will cost money in the long run, as there will need to be someone manning the ferry.
There was also talk at the meeting about a possible ferry that willl also have the ability to transport cars across to the island.
It may have come about in a tragedy, but hopefully this will be a turning point to get the folks on the island some assistance that is much overdue?
xXx
David Toller

 

[rgecy]

Well, I am pretty sure from this image that it is no secret what caused this boat to sink in choppy water! Just look at the hull and how bad the fibreglass is damaged all the way around the bow.

When I found the boat, there was a 6" gap down the entire port side of the boat at the rail. I didn't even get to look at the rest of the boat!

Like David said, the first thing we did was call DNR! Even the news reporter was glad someone was finally doing something!

Robert