From Wikivoyage

Johnmartindavies

Contents

Jump to navigation Jump to search
This is a Wikivoyage user page.

Please click on icons to enlarge and obtain more information about images.

The hulk of the Brianna H was recorded by the shipping website "marinetraffic.com" , including port of registration. Dimensions and photograph with location were recorded at . This position is just off the Careenage, Bridgetown Barbados. Location 13.107°, -59.634°, Port of Registration Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines, the picture was taken 4th of February 2014. Ship Type Cargo, Length × Breadth 54.92 X 9.22 in metres. The website lists four previous names.

She is also listed on the website "shipspotting.com" . The photo taken in 2012 shows how close she lay to Carlisle Bay and indicates:-

Gross tonnage: 658 tons Summer DWT: 749 tons Build year: 1965, Former name(s): - Connie (Until 2009) - Jade (Until 1994 Sep) - Franz Held (Until 1982) - Mignon (Until 1970).

The Barbados Nation of August 28th 2014 recorded the spontaneous sinking of the Brianna H on Sunday August 3rd 2014 during heavy rain.

When divers are introduced to a new wreck they generally like to know as much as possible about the unfortunate ship before it sank, the circumstances leading up to the sinking, and about any casualties so as to accord them proper respect. It can be quite disturbing to unexpectedly encounter a human skull on a wreck, as happened to a friend of mine because of inadequate information. Thus any documented information should be as complete as possible, not truncated for the benefit of editors not currently diving. Furthermore a Dive Guide carries a greater risk of Safety considerations and litigation than a pleasant stroll around Provincetown, Massechusetts.

The wreck was marked by a large yellow buoy attached by rope to the stern in February 2016. Because of its location close to the Careenage and Carlyle Bay anchorages, she is an ideal introductory wreck dive, with adequate visibility (about 8 metres) and generally slight currents. Although the sea bed is 25 metres and too deep for novices, the decks and superstructure are much shallower. Furthermore after years afloat in the bay there appear to be no hazards at present. Finally she sits perfectly upright on the coarse sand and seems untroubled by silt.

It was dived in February 2016 with Ram Edghill from his boat "Scotch'n'Soda". The dive and photographs obtained were used to inform this guide. Further photographs, observations and constructive navigation advice from experienced divers and boat handlers would enhance this guide. A second dive occurred with Ram on 15th November 2016 and allowed further photographic opportunities.

As the diver enters the water from the back of the boat moored to the buoy, the wreck is not visible from the surface. When he or she fins down into the gentle current for about 2 minutes in the direction of the rope to about five metres below the buoy the stern of the wreck becomes visible. The wreck is so new that there is very little growth so far though fish and invertebrates are colonising her. Navigation is very easy in regards to direction and according to the depth ypu have planned. Inexperienced divers should stick with their guide and not venture away from the wreck. The visibility, lack of serious current and tying of the buoy means that a safe ascent should not be difficult providing the rules about decompression avoidance are observed. More experienced divers will realise that current and visibility can vary from day to day at the same site, and buoys are often moved or removed. Safe return to the boat is top priority. The wreck is too far away and in waters that are too busy, to consider as a shore dive.

As GPS does not work under water, all locations of photographs refer to point of entry to water. Photograph depths have been synchronised by times on photograph and Dive Computer.

The next photographs were taken in November 2016. Visibility appeared slightly poorer than in the previous February, but there had been a lot of rain in the preceding weeks.