Chesapeake bay shipwrecks continue to lure serious shipwreck hunters and hobby divers. The challenge of very low visibility does not impair their search, extending from the mouth of the Susquehanna to Virginia Beach. More than two thousand have been found. There is a strong chance, with helpful technological improvements, many others could be waiting for their discovery.
There are many explanations for why these vessels sank. Most common reasons were faulty judgment, natural causes, wars, mutinies and pirates. In the wooden ship eras, sailors greatly dreaded the outbreak of fire.
Some areas of this estuary are known for the presence of dangerous shoals and their susceptibility to dangerous storms. The area identified as the Middle Ground is among these places. It is located between Cape Charles and Cape Henry at the mouth of the estuary. Ships had a tendency to get stranded because of the shifting sandbars underneath. After a while, they would split open with the thumping force of waves. Their cargo would get disgorged in the water. At the mouth of the James River, Willoughby Spit has witnessed the destruction of many vessels.
Wars increased the risks of passage in this hazardous region. A lot of wrecks date back to eras of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War period. Wrecks also date back to the World Wars. One of them is the Portland. This ship was one of about 1,000 wooden vessels commissioned for use in World War I. Were ill made ships, as a result several populate this waterway. Close to the Portland on Curtis Creek are three of its sister ships Dover, Fort Scott and Ashland. Fifteen others can be found in Curtis Bay.
Its renown for the presence of treacherous shoals, poor bottom conditions and its shallow waters was well known. Hazardous factors made the waterway a risk under normal conditions. An illustrative National Geographic presentation, The Shipwrecks of Delmarva, has revealed at least 2,400 wrecks. The stunning details, assembled by a marine archaeologist, also reveal historic and other information of value to divers.
This graveyard of ships has many of Spanish origin that traversed the waterway searching for gold and silver in the colonies. The Middle Atlantic was also a route for Spanish trade ships returning home. When they sank their cargo would leak. Gold and coins from these vessels have made beachcombers very happy on the beaches of the Indian River Inlet.
The side scan sonar is an example of technological improvements helping to locate additional wrecks. There is much territory to cover in this huge estuary region. There is no larger estuary on the continent. Almost 200 hundred miles are spanned by its area. Three river constitute its main tributaries. But besides the Potomac, Susquehanna and James Rivers, there are over 400 other tributaries. The drainage basin stretches across over 64,000 square miles and the territories of Maryland, District of Columbia, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware.
The dive year for Chesapeake bay shipwrecks commences in May and extends through October. Charter boat charges can vary. A SCUBA certification is required. Regulations and fees will vary by state. There is no shortage of public information sources. Generally, vessel depth ranges from 60 feet to more than a 100 feet depth. Divers are advised to pick sites that match their diving capability.
There are many explanations for why these vessels sank. Most common reasons were faulty judgment, natural causes, wars, mutinies and pirates. In the wooden ship eras, sailors greatly dreaded the outbreak of fire.
Some areas of this estuary are known for the presence of dangerous shoals and their susceptibility to dangerous storms. The area identified as the Middle Ground is among these places. It is located between Cape Charles and Cape Henry at the mouth of the estuary. Ships had a tendency to get stranded because of the shifting sandbars underneath. After a while, they would split open with the thumping force of waves. Their cargo would get disgorged in the water. At the mouth of the James River, Willoughby Spit has witnessed the destruction of many vessels.
Wars increased the risks of passage in this hazardous region. A lot of wrecks date back to eras of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War period. Wrecks also date back to the World Wars. One of them is the Portland. This ship was one of about 1,000 wooden vessels commissioned for use in World War I. Were ill made ships, as a result several populate this waterway. Close to the Portland on Curtis Creek are three of its sister ships Dover, Fort Scott and Ashland. Fifteen others can be found in Curtis Bay.
Its renown for the presence of treacherous shoals, poor bottom conditions and its shallow waters was well known. Hazardous factors made the waterway a risk under normal conditions. An illustrative National Geographic presentation, The Shipwrecks of Delmarva, has revealed at least 2,400 wrecks. The stunning details, assembled by a marine archaeologist, also reveal historic and other information of value to divers.
This graveyard of ships has many of Spanish origin that traversed the waterway searching for gold and silver in the colonies. The Middle Atlantic was also a route for Spanish trade ships returning home. When they sank their cargo would leak. Gold and coins from these vessels have made beachcombers very happy on the beaches of the Indian River Inlet.
The side scan sonar is an example of technological improvements helping to locate additional wrecks. There is much territory to cover in this huge estuary region. There is no larger estuary on the continent. Almost 200 hundred miles are spanned by its area. Three river constitute its main tributaries. But besides the Potomac, Susquehanna and James Rivers, there are over 400 other tributaries. The drainage basin stretches across over 64,000 square miles and the territories of Maryland, District of Columbia, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware.
The dive year for Chesapeake bay shipwrecks commences in May and extends through October. Charter boat charges can vary. A SCUBA certification is required. Regulations and fees will vary by state. There is no shortage of public information sources. Generally, vessel depth ranges from 60 feet to more than a 100 feet depth. Divers are advised to pick sites that match their diving capability.
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