Technical Scuba Diving
A technical diver's detailed trip report for the SS President Coolidge in Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu — covering routing options, the Fiji Air baggage saga, Pacific Dive, accommodation, and three remarkable WWII dive sites.
The author revisits the PBM Mariner wreck off Point Loma to improve a previous photogrammetry model, dealing with minor equipment issues and poor surface conditions during the dive. The new model features enhanced color and detail, providing a more accurate visual document of the historically significant wreck for an upcoming book.
Photogrammetry model of a deep TBM Avenger that crashed in 1952. Bureau Number is 53439.
Photogrammetry model of the F-4 Phantom wreck off Torrey Pines at 150 fsw, built from about 600 photos on a day with good visibility. Includes dive video, a blueprint overlay and a live 3D model.
A return dive to the F4D Skyray wreck at just over 200 feet to build a better photogrammetry model. Poor visibility left gaps in the result, and the post compares the new model with the original from 2021.
I will be presenting the keynote at the 55th Annual California Wreck Divers Banquet on 16 May 2026 at Dive 'N Surf in Redondo Beach. I presented two years ago and it was a lot of fun and camaraderie. The topic this year will be "Southern California Tales of Mystery & Aviation" which will cover [...]
There has been plenty published about the Georgia fishing boat (which was originally mis-identified as the Retriever). For background, I would recommend reading the California Wreck Divers web page on the Georgia / Retriever. I had gone with Ray & Kyaa at Sundiver back up to the F4D Skyray in Santa Monica Bay to work [...]
Intro Tyler and I had been planning a trip to the Coronado Island with Lora at Marissa Charters for a very long time. It was deferred at least 2-3 times due to weather, unplanned trips, etc. We finally got down there in early February 2026. Tyler had a friend who had seen an airplane wreck [...]
I have been included in the speaker line-up at the Long Beach Scuba Show. Details of my presentation date/time and some information are: Sunday, May 31 11:30am - 12:15pm My presentation will be about some of the Southern California airplane wreck mysteries that we recently uncovered (mistaken wreck identities!) while writing my upcoming book. I [...]
Research for the Skyray chapter of “Aviation Wrecks of Southern California.” The story of Pete Colapietro, the test pilot who survived bailing out of an F4D at 650 mph, and his family’s path from Italy to Windsor Locks, Connecticut, with family photos shared by his nephew.
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