Posted by Garry Kozak on March 12, 19100 at 08:58:14:
In Reply to: Bill13 and wreck preservation posted by Scott Napierkowski on March 09, 19100 at 20:38:09:
Dear Scott Ref: your posting below.
3- Who is Gary Kozak to sound off on the subject of shipwreck preservation? If my memory serves me right, this is the guy who systematically ripped apart the hull of the Dean Richmond in an obsessive search for a "treasure" of dubious value. With all due respects to Gary's skills and experience, who can take his observations on this particular subject seriously? Maybe our wrecks lack importance in the grand scheme of underwater archaeology and maritime history but as sole surviviors of the wooden sail and steamship age, they are extremely important when documenting the history of the Great Lakes region. This is what spending too much time with Clive Cussler and his band of Merrie Olde Hacks from NUMA will do.
It's Sunday morning and I just returned last night from a long overseas trip, and should not be using my time to respond to your question, but I will.
As you have exercised your rights of FREEDOM OF SPEECH to express your opinions here, why is it that you think I should not have that same right? Concerning my opinion in my posting, you clearly misinterpreted my concern. I was addressing the issue of FREEDOM, not preservation. The Dean Richmond by the way was not a TREASURE HUNT, it was a COMMERCIAL SALVAGE project. I don't think anyone in his or her right mind would call lead and zinc metal treasure. I will not get into the personal and financial losses incurred in finding this wreck, but to put it simply, it was business. Please keep in mind that during this search for the Dean Richmond, more than 30 other shipwrecks, including the ATLANTIC, MYSTERY SCHOONER X, and many others were located by me and left just as they were found. Many of these are still out there, undiscovered by the general diving public. Because of the nature of my profession, I have had the opportunity to work with many of the worlds top underwater archaeology groups, as well as some of the most notorious and unethical treasure hunters and commercial salvors . My OBSERVATIONS were based on these experiences. By the way, Clive Cussler is one of the most conscientious people concerned with the preservation of shipwrecks and their history. What really surprised me when I visited him at his home in Colorado, I was expecting to see at least some marine artifacts displayed in his work den. To my surprise not one, considering all the projects he has funded, and of all the shipwrecks he has been responsible for finding, including the historic submarine HUNLEY, he has taken no personal artifacts from any of any of his success's. They, as well as the knowledge learned, have all gone to museums.
I agree with you 100 % that education, not legislation is the answer
Happy Diving and Best Regards Garry Kozak