This is a fabulous dive.
The aircraft quickly begins to take shape as you descend. The wings and
engines are virtually intact although the port side propellers are missing.
The cockpit cover has also disappeared and this might suggest the crew safely
evacuated prior to ditching. The pilot's seat and control column are quite
intact and altogether these aspects form the main section. The fuselage is
detached and lies upside down a few metres to the front - mostly buried.
In fact, it night not be recognised at all were it not for the single,
non-retractable stern wheel which now sits upright and proud of the seabed -
still occupying the extreme rear end of the aircraft. Altogether this
allows divers to independently explore and inspect the entire area of the
wreckage without getting out of sight of their buddies. The main wheels -
retracted during flight, are still to be found on the underside of both wings
still in that retracted position. The engine covers have long gone thus
enabling the diver to inspect the main parts that made up this type of 920 hp
Bristol Mercury engine. The control lever is directly in front of the
pilots seat and there is always a temptation for the diver to sit in the seat
for a brief moment of fantasy. In this case, however, the seat is very
small and any such temptation should be avoided at all costs because all the
diver will achieve is to break the seat from its rather delicate mounting.
This is a deep dive at 42 meters so special care and training must be taken into
consideration.
