A 5-day shipwreck reconnaissance expedition was completed at the Channel Islands aboard the NOAA R/V SHEARWATER from October 17-21. Expedition team members included divers from the Sanctuary, Channel Islands National Park Service and Coastal Maritime Archaeology Resources (CMAR) organization.

Diver measuring the shipwreck Aggi.

Archaeological investigations included further documentation of a Grumman AF-2W Guardian airplane lost off Santa Cruz Island and site evaluation of the F/V RELIANCE lost at Santa Rosa Island. The third site recorded was a 3-masted full-rigged sailing ship named AGGI lost 90 years ago off Santa Rosa Island. The dive team spent the majority of the expedition at the AGGI site adding one additional datum monitor station and georeferencing the existing 5 datums installed in 2004.

Grumman Af-2W Guardian Santa Cruz Island.

The permanent datums will allow for accurate measurements of major artifacts during the second 5-day expedition to the site scheduled for November aboard the NPS R/V PACIFIC RANGER. The shipwreck reconnaissance program at the Channel Islands has been an ongoing collaboration between the Sanctuary, National Park Service, CMAR and State of California for nearly 25 years.

Additional Resources and Links

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary