The Airplane

The Airplane sits in about 25 feet of water. The visibility is usually quite good – 70 feet in the summer and over 100 feet in the winter. Most interesting about the wreck, is the visual effect of hundreds of square feet of shining aluminium. The wreck is broken apart and as a result of the impact, has spread over a large area. The main crash site is found by looking for sun light reflecting off the aluminium panels. The most readily recognisable parts of the wreck are her 4 huge engines with propellers still attached, although the blades are bent beyond any reasonable use, they are still distinct and recognisable as nothing other than aircraft engines. As the aircraft fuselage was made entirely from aluminium, very little, if any traditional marine life has grown on the wreckage making it look almost like an aircraft!!! The propellers are excellent if not slightly unusual underwater photographic subjects. A huge amount of fish can be found on this wreck as nutrient rich waters pass closely by. Masses of Sgt. Majors live here, perhaps a tie in to the wreck’s military past or perhaps me once again romanticising. The aluminium makes a great site for the Sgt. Majors to farm Algae, once farmed, they will guard it ferociously. This makes for endless entertainment playing with pound for pound one of nature’s more ferocious creatures.