Posted by Philip Church on February 25, 19102 at 10:56:02:
PRESS RELEASE
Feb. 18, 2002
Press Contacts: Philip Church, Oswego Maritime Foundation, 343-7990
Dave White, New York Sea Grant at 315-312-3042
Shipwreck Explorers Come to Oswego, March 9
OSWEGO, NY -- Shipwreck explorers will share their tales of adventure with the public at
Great Lakes Underwater 2002, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 9 in Lanigan Hall on the SUNY Oswego campus.
Great Lakes Underwater brings to Central New York many of the foremost experts and adventurers
in Great Lakes shipwreck diving and exploration. This is the sixth annual shipwreck and diving
symposium hosted by the Oswego Maritime Foundation (OMF) and New York Sea Grant.
This year's event features noted presenters such as shipwreck explorer and author Cris Kohl,
Joe Wargo of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Thunder Bay Marine
Sanctuary, and underwater explorer Rick Neilson.
"Great Lakes Underwater! is designed to appeal to divers and non-divers alike," said Philip Church,
director of OMF's submerged cultural resources program. "History buffs or anyone who enjoys
true stories of adventure and exploration will take pleasure in the many professional presentations,
exhibits, and displays they'll find at Great Lakes Underwater."
Cris Kohl's presentation, "Tales of Great Lakes Shipwreck Pairs," is sponsored by Aquatic World.
Kohl is the author of nine books, including the two-volume "The 100 Best Great Lakes Shipwrecks,"
"The Great Lakes Diving Guide," "Dive Ontario!," "Treacherous Waters: Kingston's Shipwrecks,"
and "TITANIC, The Great Lakes Connections." His books will be for sale and the author will be
available to autograph copies.
During the past 28 years, Kohl has explored hundreds of shipwrecks in the oceans and all five
Great Lakes. Kohl's works have appeared in the Washington Post, Immersed Magazine, Diver
Magazine, Sport Diver Magazine, Discover Diver Magazine, Great Lakes Cruiser Magazine,
Inland Seas, and many others. He serves on the Executive Board of the Underwater Archaeological
Society of Chicago, and on the Technical Advisory Committee of the Lake Erie Shipwreck Research
Center.
Joe Wargo will provide a presentation about the new Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuary and NOAA's
Ocean Exploration Program, which uses the most advanced sensing technology available in
underwater exploration.
Rick Neilson and Dave Mekker will give the audience a visual tour of the wreck of the George Davie,
which rests in Lake Ontario. Neilson discovered the wreck over a decade ago and will discuss the
vessel's history and demise.
Lance Knapp and Rosemary Nesbitt of the H. Lee White Marine Museum will show the audience how
an historic sunken canal derrick was raised and restored to become a museum ship.
Tom Rutledge of Northern Tech Diver will show how his company makes state-of-the-art multimedia
CDs of Great Lakes shipwrecks, which allow users to take a virtual tour of wrecks and help them plan
their dives.
Jim Shutts and Phil Church will provide a talk on how to get started in underwater photography and
video.
Tom Rasbeck and Phil Church will present a series of "Two Tank Tips" giving divers the information
they need to plan and access some of best dive sites in eastern Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence
River.
New York Sea Grant's Dave White will discuss the current state of diving in New York State and what
the future may hold for additional diving preserves.
Great Lakes Underwater supporters include National Aquatics, The Dive Shop, Ontario Dive Company,
Finger Lakes Scuba, Forth Coast Scuba Center and Explorer's Post No. 935.
Registration is $20 ($15 student) and includes the presentations, displays, buffet lunch and
refreshments. To register, contact Sea Grant at 315-312-3042 or sgoswego@cornell.edu before
March 6. Make checks payable to Cornell University and mail to New York Sea Grant, SUNY Oswego,
Oswego, NY 13126.
For directions and more information, contact Sea Grant, or see the Great Lakes Underwater! 2002
web site at www.dreamscape.com/pchurch/scuba/glu/index.html .