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Gallery Diving Bikini Atoll 2003 USS Saratoga
Gallery Diving Bikini Atoll 2003 USS Saratoga
USS Bowfin
Date: Sun 24 Aug 2003
The Bowfin is moored in Pearl Harbour and is the same class submarine as the USS Apogon which now lies at the bottom of Bikini Atoll.
USS Bowfin
Date: Sun 24 Aug 2003
The Bowfin is moored at Pearl Harbour and is the same class submarine as the USS Apogon which now lies at the bottom of Bikini Atoll.
USS Arizona Memorial
Date: Sun 24 Aug 2003
The memorial lies over the wreck of the Battleship USS Arizona which was bombed by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941.
USS Missouri
Date: Mon 25 Aug 2003
This is the massive forward 16 inch main guns on the USS Misouri. The Misouri was first used during WW2 and was last used during the Gulf war in 1991.
USS Missouri
Date: Mon 25 Aug 2003
This plaque sits on the wall above the spot where the Japenses surrender for WW2 was signed while the USS Misouri was moored in Tokyo bay.
USS Missouri
Date: Mon 25 Aug 2003
From within this conning tower the weapons systems were controlled. The armour around this room is extremely thick!
Majuro Atoll
Date: Mon 25 Aug 2003
30,000 people live on this small island which is possibly 5 to 10 miles around and a few hundred yards wide at its widest. Majuro is the capital of the Republic of Marshal Islands of which Bikini Atoll is part.
Majuro Atoll
Date: Tue 26 Aug 2003
The Outrigger hotel where we stayed is the building with the blue roof.
Bikini Island
Date: Tue 09 Sep 2003
This is Bikini Island - one of the many islands that make up Bikini Atoll. The accomodation area can be seen in the middle of the bay. This was built in the '70s when the US tried to repatriate the Bikini Islanders, however this was abandonned following the evacuation due to high radiation levels being detected in peoples bodies. The airport is on another island.
Bikini Airport
Date: Tue 09 Sep 2003
The weekly DASH-8 flight from Majuro lands at Bikini International Airport.
The team
Date: Tue 09 Sep 2003
The team at Bikini Airport. Left to right are: Tim Williams (Bikini), Martin Huddleston, Al Black, Alex Towns, David Jaram, Keith Hadland, Chris Clayton, Chris Jackson, Jon Salas (Bikini)
Bikini Island
Date: Sat 30 Aug 2003
This was home for 2 weeks! The buildings on the right are the accomodation, which is basic and clean (and air conditioned!). Swimming in the lagoon isn't highly recommended though due to sharks!
Bravo bomb crater
Date: Tue 09 Sep 2003
The site of the first hydrogen bomb. This was once 3 small islands, it is now a 60m deep lagoon approximately a mile wide. The bomb had a yeild of approximately 15Mega Tons - 5 times more than expected. The fallout from the blast landed like snow on an atoll approximately 100miles away, causing the evacuation of that atoll for many years.
Blast Guage
Date: Sun 31 Aug 2003
The blast guages were located on the ships to allow measuring of the nuclear blast characteristics. This tower sits on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga near the forward hanger lift.
USS Saratoga
Date: Wed 27 Aug 2003
These anti aircraft guns sit just below the flight deck on the side of the ship, thus keeping the flight deck clear for aircraft operations.
USS Saratoga
Date: Wed 27 Aug 2003
These anti aircraft guns sit just below the flight deck on the side of the ship, thus keeping the flight deck clear for aircraft operations.
USS Saratoga
Date: Thu 28 Aug 2003
A pair of clown fish have set up home on the number 3, 5 inch gun emplacement.
USS Saratoga
Date: Wed 27 Aug 2003
The forward 5 inch guns on the flight deck of the Saratoga. In the background the shadow of the bridge and control tower can just be seen.
USS Saratoga
Date: Sun 31 Aug 2003
The forwad 5 inch guns point forward with the Island of the USS Saratoga behind. The Island contains the various bridges for controlling the ship - the navigation bridge, flag bridge etc.
USS Saratoga
Date: Wed 27 Aug 2003
This shot is taken from 32m and the dive boat and the decompression station with support diver can clearly be seen above.
Helldiver
Date: Sun 31 Aug 2003
This aircraft sat on the flight deck of the USS Saratoga during Operation Crossroads and was swept off by the blast and associated waves. The aircrat carrier USS Saratoga was itself blown approximately 49ft in the air by Baker blast. It now lies in 52m of water just off the bow of the Saratoga.
Avenger
Date: Sun 31 Aug 2003
This aircraft sat on the flight deck of the USS Saratoga during Operation Crossroads and was swept off by the blast and associated waves. The aircrat carrier USS Saratoga was itself blown approximately 49ft in the air by Baker blast. It now lies in 52m of water just off the bow of the Saratoga.
Helldiver
Date: Mon 01 Sep 2003
This aircraft sat on the flight deck of the USS Saratoga during Operation Crossroads and was swept off by the blast and associated waves. The aircrat carrier USS Saratoga was itself blown approximately 49ft in the air by Baker blast. It now lies in 52m of water just off the stern of the Saratoga.
Saratoga Bridge
Date: Wed 03 Sep 2003
The bridge of the Aircraft Carrier USS Saratoga with the instrumentation. The blast covers are down on the portholes in anticipation for the nuclear blast which sank her in 1946.
USS Saratoga
Date: Wed 03 Sep 2003
A large number of penetration dives were undertaken on the Saratoga. Here, the entrance to the skullery is via a broken air conditioning shaft from the forward aircraft elevator.
Diver: Jon Sallas.
Diver: Jon Sallas.
USS Saratoga Skullery
Date: Sun 07 Sep 2003
This room in the skullery contains lots of crockery. On the wall, behind a glass panel is the instructions for the dishwasher - parts of which are still readable.
USS Saratoga Workshop
Date: Wed 03 Sep 2003
The general workshop contains many mills, lathes, drills grinders etc. When the Saratoga went down, it was fully equiped.
USS Saratoga CIC
Date: Sat 06 Sep 2003
This photo shows a radar screen in the Combat Information Center - the main coordination room when the ship was under combat conditions. Diver: David Jerram.
USS Saratoga CIC
Date: Sat 06 Sep 2003
The CIC (Combat Information Center) i was the heart of the ship during battle. The room contains radio sets, radar displays and communications systems to other parts of the ship. Much of the writing can still be seen on switches and lables... This photo shows a communications desk with a telephone and microphone, and a radar screen can be seen on the left of the picture.
USS Saratoga Barbers Chair
Date: Fri 05 Sep 2003
The officers barber shop is adjacent to the Admirals cabin. The barber chair and basin can be seen here.
USS Saratoga
Date: Sat 06 Sep 2003
David squeezing out of a coridoor near the captains cabin.
Diver: David Jerram.
Diver: David Jerram.
USS Saratoga Aircraft Hanger
Date: Sat 30 Aug 2003
This 2000 pound bomb is one of many that sits in the hanger. When Operations Crossroads was conducted, the warships were 66% full of amunition and fuel. In the Words on Tim - "Don't bang on the bombs"!
USS Saratoga Hellcat Cockpit
Date: Sat 06 Sep 2003
There are three Helldiver dive bombers in the Hanger of the Saratoga. This picture shows the cockpit of one aircraft.
USS Saratoga Hellcat
Date: Sat 06 Sep 2003
This Helldiver dive bomber sits in the forward hanger with its wings folded, ready to be rolled out for battle. The cockpit is in remarkable condition given it has been under the water since 1946.
USS Saratoga Hellcat Propellor
Date: Sun 07 Sep 2003
The hanger of USS Saratoga contains 3 Helldiver dive bombers. Forward it is in good condition, however there is considerable damage toward the rear elevator where the flight deck was crushed by the weight of millions of tons of water that was dumped on it following the Baker blast.
USS Saratoga Telephone
Date: Mon 01 Sep 2003
This telephone is inside one of the ready rooms on the Saratoga flight deck.
USS Saratoga
Date: Wed 03 Sep 2003
Many penetration dives were conducted within the USS Saratoga. Here David can be seen exiting through a ventilation duct from the marines living quarters into the forward aircraft elevator.
Diver: David Jerram.
Diver: David Jerram.
HIJMS Nagato
Date: Sat 30 Aug 2003
The Nagato was a huge battleship and it also had a small aircraft hanger on the back. The plane could be launched off a catapault and it then landed in the sea on floats was was craned back on board. Inside, the Ngato is very roomy - much more so than the American warships.
HIJMS Nagato Bow Guns
Date: Sat 30 Aug 2003
The main armament on HIJMS Nagato was 8, 16 inch guns. These are absolutely enormous! The ship now lies upside down in 53m and the guns are an awsome sight. The #1 guns still have the sea covers on the barrels.
HIJMS Nagato Rangefinder
Date: Fri 29 Aug 2003
The range finder on the stern 16 inch gun was used to direct the gun firing. Generally, the guns were controlled from a central firing room, however if this was out of action the guns could be directed manually from the gun position.
HIJMS Nagato Bridge
Date: Wed 03 Sep 2003
The Nagato was the flagship of the Japanese Navy and it is from here that the order to launch the attack on Pearl Harbour was given. The Nagato lies upside down in 53m and the bridge has broken away and lies on its side.
HIJMS Nagato Propellors
Date: Fri 29 Aug 2003
The Nagato lies upside down and has four massive screws and two huge rudders. Two screws can be seen here and the dark object on the left of the image is one of the rudders.
HIJMS Nagato Propellor
Date: Fri 29 Aug 2003
The Nagato has four of these huge propellors.
Diver: Chris Clayton.
Diver: Chris Clayton.
HIJMS Nagato Bow Gun
Date: Wed 03 Sep 2003
The #1 16 inch gun on the Nagato at 53m. The anchor chains hang down from the 'roof' and this this is truely an awesome wreck.
Diver: Alex Towns.
Diver: Alex Towns.
USS Apogon Bridge
Date: Sun 31 Aug 2003
The USS Apogon bridge with guns and periscope sitting in 52m.
USS Apogon Bow
Date: Sun 31 Aug 2003
This shot shows the bow of the USS Apogon in 52m.
Diver: David Jerram.
Diver: David Jerram.
USS Apogon Gun
Date: Sun 31 Aug 2003
This shot shows one of the two anti aircraft guns on the Apogon.
Diver: David Jerram.
Diver: David Jerram.
USS Anderson
Date: Thu 28 Aug 2003
The destroyer USS Anderson lies on its port side in 52m. This view taken looking down from around 30 to 35m shows the stern section and propellors in the very clear water.
USS Anderson Bow
Date: Thu 28 Aug 2003
This shot of the bow of the USS Anderson is taken from the bottom of the bow at 52m.
USS Anderson Bow
Date: Fri 05 Sep 2003
This shot of the bow of the USS Anderson is taken from the top side of the bow looking along the deck.
USS Anderson Gun
Date: Fri 05 Sep 2003
This is the #1 main gun on the Destroyer USS Anderson. The Anderson lies on its port side in 52m of water.
USS Akansas Bow
Date: Thu 04 Sep 2003
The battleship USS Akansas lies upside down in 53m with the anchor chains hanging loose. The main 12 inch gus point out the side a little way back (not visible in this photo).
USS Carlisle Gun
Date: Tue 02 Sep 2003
This is the bow gun on the attack transport ship USS Carlisle.
USS Carlisle Helm
Date: Tue 02 Sep 2003
The USS Carlisle was very close to Ground Zero for Able blast and shows the awsome power of a nuclear explosion. Here the helm has been folded in two by the blast.
Reef Shark
Date: Fri 29 Aug 2003
Sharks visited us on most dives and generally caused no menace. However on occasion we were visited by an over enthusiastic shark that had to be closely observed - we were always looking over our shoulders on the long decompression stops!
USS Lamson Torpedoe
Date: Sat 06 Sep 2003
These torpedos point off the starboard side of the destroyer USS Lamson.
USS Lamson Gun
Date: Sat 06 Sep 2003
A coral head has taken up residence on an anti aircraft gun on the destroyer USS Lamson.
USS Lamson Telegraph
Date: Mon 08 Sep 2003
This telegraph sits near the stern of the USS Lamson and would have been outside. The telegraph had red glass insert for low light running conditions.which is still clear today as can be seen in this photograph.
Diver: Keith Hadland.
Diver: Keith Hadland.
Deco Station
Date: Thu 28 Aug 2003
Since the dives conducted at Bikini are all in the 50m range and extended bottom times of up to 40 minutes are being pushed, extensive decompression is conducted on the station. Bars at 3m, 6m, and 9m have surface fed 75% O2 for accellerated decompression.
Shark Pass
Date: Tue 02 Sep 2003
Hundreds of sharks quickly turned up at shark pass when we arrived, when fish was thrown into the water there was a lot of excitement! Plenty of excitement was also had by putting your hand in the water to take a photo and the sharks regularly bit the cameras!
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