You Can Help Save Beached Whales

About 2,000 dolphins and whales beach themselves each year, mostly resulting in death. But there is a lot you can do to help save them if you are a mariner.

Locations and causes of beaching

Whale beachings happen year-round, almost anywhere, and sometimes they can be very dramatic. Just a few weeks ago, on Cheynes Beach in southern Western Australia, 100 pilot whales formed into a heart-shaped pod and pushed themselves onto the beach. Some of the 25-foot-long whales were saved, but most had to be euthanized.

This strange phenomenon is also called cetacean stranding. Scientists have records of it dating back to 300 B.C. Sometimes individual animal beaching and death can be explained due to sickness, injury, weather, pregnancy, old age or hunting too close to shore. 

However, when a pod beaches, scientists point to other reasons:

• Social groups. Dolphins and whales tend to live in large communities with intricate social systems we don’t fully understand. If one is in distress, the others sometimes follow.
• Technology. The oceans are filled with sonar and other man-made noises that can disrupt the natural navigation of whales, confuse them and make them head for the beach instead of the deeper water. 
• Species characteristics. Cuvier’s beaked whales are most susceptible to sonar confusion. Orcas are smart enough to purposely beach themselves in hopes of snagging a shoreline seal and then using the incoming tide to ease back into the water. But it doesn’t always work out. 

Step 1: Find the whales before they’ve beached

To help save whales before they beach, the first step is to locate them and observe them. We’ve created a list (see next paragraph) of the most common whale sighting areas in the U.S. and the corresponding ocean charts. If boating in the areas, keep an eye out for whales. 

13 Best Whale Sighting Areas in the Coastal U.S.

Locations are linked to their respective charts.

1. Glacier Bay, Alaska
2. Juneau, Alaska
3. Kodiak Island, Alaska
4. Depoe Bay, Oregon
5. Big Sur, California
6. Monterey Bay, California
7. San Diego, California
8. Maui, Hawaii
9. Jacksonville, Florida
10. Virginia Beach, Virginia
11. Cape Cod, Massachusetts
12. Long Island, New York
13. Bar Harbor, Maine

Once you’ve spotted whales, look to see if they are close to shore and blowing. For some species, this is normal. Pregnant whales also prefer to give birth in shallow areas. But what begins as normal behavior may shift to abnormal beaching behavior. Darting toward shore or actually pulling up partially onto the beach is not normal and can be a distress signal. Often this is caused by deterioration of the brain during aging, bad weather or confusing sonar from ships. 

Since whales live in social groups, if one beaches, many may follow out of duty. Mass beaching could be next. 

Step 2: Immediately report suspicious activity

Speed saves beached whale and dolphin lives. If you are cruising along a coast and see a beaching, you can contact the Whale and Dolphin Conservation organization. Contacts vary by location:

• Northeast Region, United States. You can call the Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding and Entanglement Hotline at (866) 755-6622.
• West Coast Region, United States. The Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding and Entanglement Hotline can be reached at (866) 767-6114.
• British Columbia, Canada. To report stranded marine mammals, call the Fisheries and Oceans Canada hotline at (800) 465-4336.
• Nova Scotia, Canada. To report a stranded, injured or dead marine mammal, contact the Marine Animal Response Society Hotline at (866) 567-6277.

These organizations send trained volunteers to help transport the animals back into the water or, if one or more are deceased, to perform post-mortem examinations to determine the cause of the beaching.

For additional information on stranding or entanglement locations in the United States, check out this NOAA page. In Canada, check out the Marine Mammal Center page.

Boaters Beware: Top 5 Most Dangerous Sea Animals

This summer, a female otter off the coast of Monterey, California, is harassing wakeboarders and surfers, stealing and sometimes destroying their boards. It’s gotten so bad that a wildlife crew is trying to capture her. Her “cuteness” becomes mildly terrifying in this video, where she charges at a man in a wetsuit. But sea otter “841″, as she’s now called, is not the only animal threat to those who enjoy being on the water…and not the most dangerous by far. 

It’s a good reminder that mariners should be mindful of animal threats. Here are the top five, as determined by OceanGrafix, a producer of NOAA print-on-demand nautical charts:

1. Blue-ringed octopus

While only the size of a golf ball, this creature has venom that is 1,000 times more powerful than cyanide. One blue-ringed octopus can kill 26 people within minutes. Watch for them from the Sea of Japan to southern Australia and the Philippines. They hang out in intertidal flats where people come to snorkel.

2. Stonefish

If you’re swimming, you’ll find it hard to tell a stonefish from the stone on which it perches. Yet it’s the most venomous fish of the sea. Stings from touching one of 13 of its spines result in terrible pain, swelling, tissue necrosis and even death. While these killers were first mostly seen from India to Australia, they’ve migrated to the Caribbean Sea and even to the waters of the Florida Keys. Another common fish, the pufferfish, is one of the most toxic fish in the world (and a delicacy in Japan). Pufferfish are common off the coast of the U.S., South America, Japan and India.

3. Sperm whales

You don’t even have to get in the water to be subject to the wrath of a sperm whale. They’ve been known to ram both wooden and steel boats, fishing boats and pleasure craft. The attackers usually are juveniles, which is why mature whales often have scars across their bodies. Some breach the top of boats, some ram into the sidewall and others have been known to play tug-of-war with the anchor. Sperm whales are found in all oceans.

4. Sharks

If one of your boating objectives is to scuba dive, sharks are a real and present danger. Don’t believe the myth that sharks are harmless! Sharks often confuse humans for food, thinking they are sea lions. Twelve species are opportunistic feeders and will go for low-hanging fruit, which could be someone sitting on a boat and not even in the water. Forget outrunning a shark: they travel 25 miles an hour and can clear a four-foot hull. 

5. Stingrays

Closer to home, the common stingray is exploding in population in Southern California. They love to hang around in low-tide areas and can be seen in marinas. While not aggressive by nature, if they feel threatened, they will sting. (You may remember that in 2006, TV personality Steve Irwin died from a stingray sting.) Stingrays are an old species, surviving for 150 million years, which is longer than dinosaurs. Aquariums remove their poisonous spines before they release them to petting ponds, so don’t be fooled.

Animals must beware of boaters, too!

While sea animals can be deadly to boaters, it works the other way around, too. Populations of sea turtles, dolphins and manatees have been decimated by boat strikes. In good news, efforts by conservationists to educate boaters have enabled the manatee population in South Florida to rebound to 7,520 animals today.

Of course, the goal is peaceful coexistence. After all, thousands of sea creatures pose no threat to boaters and add to the joy and mystique of the experience.

On June 8, Do Something for the Oceans

June 8 is World Oceans Day. We call on our mariners and seafarers to celebrate by doing something that benefits our oceans (see our ideas below).

Oceans deserve our attention. They are vast resources for commerce and pleasure. At any given time, 50,000 merchant ships are crisscrossing the seas. While it’s difficult to estimate the number of recreational boaters on the Earth’s oceans, we know that 100 million Americans go boating each year, the majority of which are on oceans. 

The concept of a World Oceans Day was first proposed in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro to celebrate our world’s shared oceans and our connection to the sea, as well as to raise awareness about the crucial role the oceans play in our lives and the important ways people can help protect them.

World Oceans Day is a global observance that aims to raise awareness about the importance of the oceans and promote the sustainable use and conservation of marine resources. The day serves as an opportunity to highlight the critical role the oceans play in our lives, including their significance for biodiversity, climate regulation, food security, and economic development.

Each year, World Oceans Day has a specific theme to focus on particular aspects of ocean conservation. The theme for World Oceans Day in 2023 is “Planet Ocean: tides are changing.”

Amazing ocean facts you may not know!

Oceans cover 71% of the Earth’s surface (and contain 91% of the Earth’s water and 94% of the Earth’s living creatures). While these are stunning perspectives, did you know:

• There are more historic artifacts under the sea than in all the world’s museums.
• The great barrier reef in Australia can be seen from the moon.
• Ninety percent of the earth’s volcanic activity happens in the oceans.
• The deepest part of the ocean is called the Mariana Trench, which is around 7 miles deep and located in the South Pacific Ocean.
  

More amazing perhaps is that we know so little about our oceans. Only five percent of the oceans’ floor has been mapped in detail. Much about oceans remains a mystery.

Our oceans are resilient, but need our help

What we know for sure is that our oceans need care. They’re getting warmer. But there’s lots of good news, too, all thanks to human intervention:

• Humpback whales have come back from 1,500 to 40,000 and no longer are endangered.
• Glowing LED fishing nets have cut unwanted bycatches of endangered species (sharks, skates, and rays) by 63%.
• Some states and countries are banning microplastics.
• The world’s most valuable fisheries, making up 34% of global captures, are healthy.

Five ways to celebrate World Oceans Day

Here are five ways to honor World Oceans Day on June 8 (and not all of them require you to get wet):

1. Watch an ocean film. Here’s a list of the top 25.
2. Get out on the water. Cruise, sail, paddle, breathe deep, and enjoy the beauty. 
3. Join a World Oceans Day event. Their commitment this year is “30×30,” meaning to protect 30% of the planet’s lands, waters and oceans by 2030. Their list of events grows every day.
4. Decorate your home with a framed ocean chart  that has a personal history for you. You can even order wallpaper charts.
5. Participate in a beach cleanup. Ocean Conservancy organizes groups. 

The Marine Stewardship Council is a great resource for getting more involved in World Oceans Day and for participating throughout the year in efforts to protect our oceans.

DNA Unlocks Secrets About Ancient Shipwreck Victims

Aided by remote “drone” divers and advances in sonar, more ancient shipwrecks are being discovered. Sometimes salvage operations recover whole vessels and their entire bounty. But until recently, scientists knew little about the actual passengers and crew. 

Now, a new method of DNA testing is making it possible to know amazing facts about the people aboard the old shipwrecks. We can know their physical characteristics (such as eye and hair color, weight and height) and, sometimes, link them to living relatives! All of this is due to better DNA sequencing protocols that enable scientists to work with scant or degraded DNA samples of bone found with the wreckage. This is especially relevant because saltwater accelerates the deterioration of DNA.

The insights began with a 400-year-old Swedish battleship

The new forensic DNA work was first tried with a piece of bone found in the shipwreck of the Vasa, a 1628 Swedish warship that sank on its maiden voyage. One hundred and fifty people were aboard and 30 died. Scientists used the new DNA technique to discover that what was thought to be the bone of a man was in fact a woman. 

But they learned even more. Gertrude, as she became known, was the wife of one of the sailors and had possibly snuck onto the ship disguised as a man (her DNA showed she had the facial structure to pull off the subterfuge). DNA showed that Gertrude had freckles and an earwax buildup, of all things. Scientists are figuring out more about her, but these details alone are tantalizing.

The Vasa, sunk in 1628, recovered and shown in Sweden. 30 crew lost their lives. (Courtesy of Javier Cohen)

Shipwreck victims from 2,000 years ago are coming to life

Honing their learning from the Vasa about this new DNA process, scientists are going back further in history than the 1628 Vasa. Forensic DNA experts have now identified a bone fragment of a crew member on a sailing ship sunk about the time of Jesus, somewhere between Greece and Rome! His name is Pamphilos, and he lived 2,000 years ago. Pamphilos is thought to have drowned at age 20 to 25, the DNA shows. The ship was carrying bronze and marble statues, ornate glass, gold jewelry and an astrology device that could map the heavens.

Scientists are still working to extract Pamphilos’ DNA with their new discovery process. They suspect that he was a slave and drowned because he was in irons at the time of the sinking. At some point, they may be able to map his DNA to a descendant living today.

DNA solved mystery of lost Franklin Expedition

Scientists are using this DNA discovery tool to identify bones found in more recent shipwrecks than the Vasa, too. In 1845, 220 years after the sinking of the Vasa, two ships left England for Arctic exploration, carrying a combined 134 people and seeking a route across the Northwest Passage. A year later, the ships (the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror) were made immobile after being encased in ice near King William Island. For two years, the crew continued to live on the frozen ships. Then, in 1848, the 105 surviving crew abandoned the ships onto islands and slowly died or were cannibalized. For decades, nothing was known about what happened.

The reconstructed face of John Gregory, a ship engineer on HMS Erebus, based on DNA and skeletal analysis 176 years after his shipwreck and death on a remote Arctic Island.

In the 1980s, some crew members from this expedition were found preserved in ice. In 2014 and 2017, the actual ships were found. But little was known about most of the other crew who died. Then, researchers found 39 tooth and bone samples on a windswept, gravely beach on Beechey Island. Using advanced DNA techniques, scientists began to analyze DNA profiles from these bone fragments to reconstruct details of the lost expedition.

Their findings have been nothing short of incredible. For example, matching DNA with living relatives, researchers identified the remains of John Gregory, a ship engineer, 176 years after his death. The match was with Gregory’s great-great-great grandson who lives in South Africa. No photo was available of Gregory, but the advanced DNA work enabled scientists to recreate his likeness.

New DNA techniques are being applied to ancient, shipwrecked animal mysteries, too

These new DNA tests with advanced analysis have been applied to animal remains from shipwrecks, too. For years, Virginia locals have maintained without proof that the wild ponies on offshore islands were from Spain in the 1500s. It wasn’t until recently that DNA from an ancient horse tooth found in Haiti finally proved that the ponies on Chincoteague and Assateague Island are, indeed, survivors of sunken Spanish galleons. The tooth DNA proved that the ponies’ DNA was similar to DNA in horses ridden on the Iberian Peninsula of Spain.

This tooth fragment, from a site in Haiti, contains the oldest genetic material from a domestic horse in the Americas. (Photo courtesy of Atlas Obscura)

Advanced DNA has role in today’s shipwrecks

These new DNA identification techniques are also being used in recent shipwrecks, particularly among vessels used to illegally transport migrants. Many sink, leading to the fatality of at least part of the ship’s passengers. Often, those who die do not have identification.

Using the new DNA identification techniques, scientists can identify the victims for their families, even after prolonged exposure to seawater.

The stories of the uses and discoveries of advanced DNA testing of shipwreck victims are still being written, and they will continue to stretch from today back to ancient history.

Survival at Sea: How Prepared Are You?

A jumping humpback whale in front of a sailing boat.

A shipwreck at sea can happen to anybody. In the United States, 658 people died as a result of boating accidents in 2021 and 2,641 people were injured. Many deaths were due to damage to the boat.

The sailboat Raindancer is a case in point. Just this past March, a crew of four friends aboard the 44-foot sailboat was making their way from the Galapagos Islands to French Polynesia, a 3,500-mile journey.

About 1:30 p.m. on March 13, during a pizza lunch, Alana Litz, one of the crew, saw a Bryde’s whale breach on the port side. The whale, about the same length as the sailboat, came crashing down on the craft, shredding the reinforced hull. 

Within seconds, the Raindancer crew realized that plugging the gaping holes in the hull was impossible. Their sailboat was quickly sinking. The four grabbed safety equipment, emergency gear, food and water and threw them into their lifeboat. They clambered aboard and cut the line connecting them to the sailboat just before it sank, only 15 minutes after the crash.

The four friends were at sea in the lifeboat.

Quick thinking and the right survival gear can make the difference

One crucial piece of equipment in the lifeboat was a portable marine VHF radio. Raindancer also had a subscription to the Starlink internet system, enabling them to broadcast their distress over the internet.

Their distress signal was picked up by officials in Peru, who alerted the U.S. Coast Guard, who then signaled the nearest vessel, a civilian ship called Rolling Stones. Rolling Stones picked up the shipwrecked survivors before dawn the next day, after 10 hours in the lifeboat.

Miraculously, all survived, uninjured and in good spirits.

Perhaps most concerning about this incredible tale is that this type of animal collision is not unusual. According to the International Whaling Commission, whales have collided with boats 1,200 times (accounting only for the reported ones) since 2007.

That said, shipwrecks happen for many reasons other than animal encounters. Boat collisions, onboard fires or explosions, faulty equipment and weather can be major contributors.

If this happens to you, are you prepared? 

Several organizations make safety at sea their focus. They offer guidance on equipment and courses to help boaters prepare for accidents. Among them are the U.S. Coast Guard, BoatUS, United States Power Squadrons, the National Safe Boating Council and the Water Sports Foundation. Based on these expert sources, here’s a summary checklist of essential survival gear and equipment that you should stow before your next high-seas adventure. (The list is long, but this infographic nicely summarizes the essentials.)

1. Flotation Devices

If you aren’t wearing a PFD, find one and put it on as soon as possible. Better yet, if in a dive boat, and you have time, don a wetsuit to protect against the cold air and water and any sharp debris floating in the water. If thrown from the boat before grabbing a life jacket, look in the water for floating debris or floating plastic containers.

2. Grab Bag of Survival Items

Call it whatever you like (ditch bag, abandon ship bag, panic bag), this bag is a collection of essentials in case of a shipwreck. It should be one of the first things you grab (hence its name). Here’s a partial list of what should be inside (or attached): a personal locator beacon, flares, gloves for holding them, a first aid kit, a headlamp and batteries, a signaling mirror, a whistle, sunscreen and lip balm, survival blankets, warm clothes, a sharp knife, a bailer and sponge, fishing line, tackle and a cutting board, cable ties, a ship line, toilet paper and hand sanitizer, a solar power bank, a handheld GPS or compass, a diver’s slate, water, food and a can opener, waterproof matches, and a portable marine radio (see details below). If a GPS isn’t an option, it’s vital to have a compass and a paper chart, as those will help you identify where you are.

3. Life Raft

Life rafts are mandatory on vessels over 13.7 meters but should be on the essential gear list for anyone on an open-sea adventure. The safest ocean-going life rafts meet SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) Convention standards. SOLAS rafts must have a boarding platform, safety gear and ample interior space. Life rafts should have ballast, sea anchors, a flotation-activating painter line, backup manual inflation, a well-ventilated canopy, storage containers and a double floor to insulate from cold water. Rafts should be serviced annually.

4. Marine Radio

A VHF Marine Radio allows instant communication between your boat and other boats, marinas, bridges and the United States Coast Guard. Although not required in recreational boats under 65.5 feet in length, the radio is an essential safety item. Radios are used to monitor the weather and to make distress calls. Channel 16 monitoring is required and is the primary distress call channel. For open sea adventures, both a fixed (attached to the boat) and handheld VHF radio (one that can be taken with you on a life raft) are essential gear. Use Channel 16 to broadcast a Mayday call immediately upon distress.

While this list of items may seem daunting, the United States Search and Rescue Task Force does a nice job of summarizing the essentials: “Appropriate clothing (most important in cold water), flotation device, water (or reverse osmosis pump), first aid kit, signaling and communication device, and food (and/or fishing/hunting equipment), a knife, seasick pills and sunscreen. A sea anchor might also be useful during storms (and to catch plankton).”

Don’t forget scenario planning

A well-trained mariner knows that when their craft is disabled and sunk, hypothermia and drowning are not the only threats. Others include:

• Fire and explosion. Whether because of a collision or the malfunction of an onboard engine, stove or heater, fire can sink a craft. In the wreckage area, there could be fuel spills that catch fire and are a threat to anyone overboard. Underwater explosions cause concussions and drowning.
• Sharks. Most sharks are harmless. Those known to attack humans are the bull, tiger and great white sharks. The biggest risk of a shark attack is due to the noise and commotion of the explosion or crash causing the shipwreck. Afterward, the risk is minimal.
• Wind and currents. The chance of steering your life raft toward a land destination is usually quite low. Wind and currents dominate. Unless you are in sight of a large land mass, it may be best to wait to be found.
• Sun and salt. Sun exposure causes dehydration, so creating a sunshade is essential. Long exposure to direct sunlight also can cause partial or permanent blindness. Salt exposure irritates and can burn the skin. Rinse with rainwater whenever possible.

Survival training and survival equipment in good working condition are essential to surviving a disaster at sea. At the start of each boating season or before a major voyage, crews should review, replace and update survival gear appropriate to the size of the craft and crew and rehearse what to do for worst case scenarios.

To Survive, Manatees Need Help from Boaters

March 29 is National Manatee Appreciation Day, a time to celebrate and preserve these gentle giants. Manatee numbers are, unfortunately, quickly depleting. Thankfully, boaters can make a big difference in helping manatees survive as a species.

Why manatees are moving toward extinction

About 6,500 manatees remain in the U.S. Females give birth every two to five years, so approximately 600 manatees are born each year. The lifespan of a manatee can be 65 years, so their decline is not due to natural causes.

The biggest threats to manatees are loss of habitat (particularly sea grass), toxic algal bloom, and injuries by boaters. Since 1,100 died in 2021 and 800 died in 2022, manatees haven’t been able to sustain their population, and it is dwindling fast. 

How boaters can help save the manatees

About 100 manatees per year are killed in boating accidents. Much can be done by boaters to reverse this trend.

Most important, boaters can avoid collisions with manatees by understanding and respecting their habitat and behaviors. Because manatees prefer shallow water and must surface to breathe, boaters should be aware of their presence and steer clear of them. Slowing down in a manatee habitat is the surest way to see and avoid manatees. 

NOAA chart 11484 of the Cape Canaveral coast, a popular hangout for manatees.

Florida, where most manatees live, especially in the winter, has an active “Save the Manatee” organization, offering educational materials and decals for boaters. Boaters are urged to call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 888-404-3992 if they see a manatee in distress. Signs of distress include a manatee unable to submerge or being entangled in crab traps or fishing line. Another sign is orphans and manatees with pink scars or open wounds. A video on this topic shows the warning signs. The website also has links to manatee distress reporting in other states.

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Quick Facts About Manatees

• Called sea cows, the manatee actually is related to the elephant.
• Manatees can live in both fresh and salt water and prefer depths of 10 to 16 feet.
• Adults weigh 800 to 1,200 pounds and are 10 feet in length.
• In the U.S., most spend winters in Florida, but then migrate in the summer to Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. They especially congregate in warm water given off by power plants.
• Manatees breathe air but can stay submerged for 20 minutes.
• Usually, manatees swim 3-5 mph, but can travel at 20 mph.
• Alligators usually avoid manatees and are not predators.
• Manatees are protected under the Endangered Species Act and under the Marine Mammal Protection 

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More help for manatees is on the way

Just nine months ago, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) agreed to update manatee critical habitat protections, last addressed 10 years ago. By making manatees a priority, FWS will develop ways to improve manatee habitat by increasing access to sea grass, their main diet, particularly in the Indian River Lagoon, which is a key manatee habitat.

Photo courtesy of David Schrichte and savethemanatees.org.

“The manatee has a long path towards recovery,” said Ragan Whitlock at the Center for Biological Diversity. “This action by FWS is a really important first step for that recovery.”

Rare California King Tide Struck Late January

Carolinas Will Get Hit May, June and July

A King Tide—the highest predicted high tide of the year—hit California between January 22 and 24 and will slam the Carolinas May 15, June 12 and July 11!  A King Tide is a super-sized tide capable of reaching 7-plus feet (which is two feet higher than any other high tide). 

This phenomenon happens one to three times a season and is caused by the alignment of the moon and sun with the coastal U.S. Typically a King Tide strikes the West Coast in the winter and the East Coast in early summer.

People watch this monster tide and document it with photographs on their cell phone. (Please do so from a safe place.) Then they post the photos on either the California King Tides Project or the North Carolina King Tides Project. The projects are interested in protecting and enhancing coastal habitat, fisheries, agriculture, ports and public access

A 2021 King Tide destroyed railroad tracks near San Diego. (Posted by a resident on the California King Tides Project website.)

A predictor of the future

Scientists pay attention to King Tides because they help predict what will be normal water levels in the future. Information gained by close observation of King Tides on coastal areas helps make better decisions on public investment in infrastructure, housing and habitat restoration. King Tides identify flood-prone areas, vulnerable marinas, or erosion problems so that communities can prepare to avert damage.

As sea levels rise, tides in general (and King Tides in particular) are expected to be 1 to 2.7 feet higher by 2050 and, by 2099, 7 feet higher. So, a King Tide in 2023 may model daily sea level tides in 2099.

A 2022 North Carolina King Tide caught this beach house and car by surprise. (Photo by Don Bowers)

King Tides are growing bigger over time

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, each year King Tides inch even higher because ocean levels everywhere are rising. This year, another factor comes into play: California’s record winter rainfall has made shorelines more permeable and vulnerable to sea damage from the tides. 

The King Tide projects have been so successful in educating the public about King Tides and future sea levels that they’ve expanded to a global network of King Tide initiatives that includes the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts of the U.S., plus coasts of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Asia.

A New, Intense Interest in Finding Shipwrecks

For hundreds of years, bounty hunters have been looking for shipwrecks, hoping to find gold and other treasures that would make them rich. But in the last few years, interest in shipwrecks has suddenly spiked.

What jump started this recent resurgence? Many say it is the remarkable bounty found on board the S.S. Central America, brought to public attention just last year.

Cold coins found in the S.S. Central America. (Photo courtesy of USA Today)

How the S.S. Central America whetted the appetite for shipwreck exploring

The S.S. Central America, commonly called the “Ship of Gold,” sank in 7,200 feet of water in 1857 during a hurricane while traveling from Panama to New York. Its cargo included gold ingots, gold jewelry and even blue jeans hand made by Levi Strauss (artifacts worth lots of money). Of 578 passengers, 415 died. 

Tommy Thompson, the shipwreck explorer who found the ship in 1988, went to prison for six years because he refused to tell the federal government where the gold U.S. coins were. Once this dispute was sorted out, full recovery took another decade, ending in 2014. Still, all the booty was held from public view until 2022. It was finally disclosed that the ship held $100 – $150 billion in treasure!

New technology is helping the search for shipwrecks, too

Technology advances also are making shipwreck discovery easier, tempting many to join in. For hundreds of years, human divers, first in suits and then in diving bells, looked for shipwrecks and the riches that might come with them. Then, around 2018, advances in underwater robotics and sensors opened up the depth to which explorers can search. 

Even more new technology quickly followed. For the big picture, satellite imagery was developed that can help pinpoint the plumes of particulate matter generated by wrecks. But other innovations helped fine-tune the search. According to National Geographic, remote-sensing techniques like sonar, which uses sound waves, and LiDAR, which uses lasers, allow wreck finders to map the seafloor and underwater objects in incredible detail. 

This new technology, along with images from the “Ship of Gold,” combined just this past year to inspire thousands of treasure seekers to begin expeditions to find shipwrecks. And why not? There are a lot of possible finds. An estimated three million shipwrecks lie in seabed graveyards around the world.

Shipwreck explorer Jonas Dahm took this photograph of the interior of what was once a passenger cabin on board the Aachen, a 19th century steam ship that sank in the First World War when it became a German navy vessel. (Courtesy of CNN Travel, Inside Ghost Ships)

This renewed interest in shipwrecks has already led to some fascinating shipwreck finds

Here are just a few of the latest shipwreck finds, some notorious for bounty, some for historical value:

• Lake Superior. The “Nucleus,” a Great Lakes “Barquentine” sailing ship, was found in 600 feet of water. It sunk in a storm in 1869, but the crew made it to lifeboats and safety. The value of the find is of a historical nature, not a monetary one, as the ship was carrying iron ore, not gold.
• Baltic Sea. Because of the cold water of the Baltic, shipwrecks are preserved intact and sought by explorers interested in historical information. They’re called ghost ships because they seem untouched by time. One Baltic Sea finding, the Aachen, even displays preserved oil paintings in their original form.
• Columbian waters. The Spanish galleon San Jose sank in 1708 off the coast of Columbia (the Columbian government is not saying where), with $17 billion worth of gold, silver and jewels. It was discovered by Columbia in 2015. Efforts are underway to excavate the treasures. The problem is that ownership of the wealth is in dispute. Spain claims ownership because it was a Spanish ship, but Columbia says the wreck is in Columbian waters and therefore belongs to Columbia. High-tech rovers photographed some of the gold coins in high definition at 2,000 feet deep (see photo).
• Antarctic seas. The HMS Endurance, Ernest Shackleton’s exploratory ship that tried to cross Antarctica, was crushed by sea ice and sank in 1915. It was located 107 years later in 2022 using new technology in what historians and archeologists call a stunning find.

Coins photographed within the Spanish galleon San Jose’ at 2,000 feet depth by a remote camera. “You can see the date they were minted,” said Adm. Jose’ Amezquita of the Columbian navy. (Photo courtesy of Armada de la Republica de Columbia)

Among the historical prizes still to be discovered: 

• The Santa Maria was part of Christopher Columbus’s fleet and sank off the coast of Haiti in 1492.
• The biggest prize for treasure hunters is the Flor De la Mar, which sank in 1511, loaded with diamonds, gold and untold riches. The vessel is thought to be in the Strait of Malacca.

Here are details of the five most famous shipwrecks waiting to be found. 

Many more treasures are out there to be found, but who owns them?

In spite of discoveries, thousands of ships of historical and monetary value are still lying on sea floors, and on the bottom of freshwater lakes, waiting to be discovered. But take note: shipwreck discoveries do not necessarily follow a “finders keepers” rule. Governments usually claim ownership if the vessel was owned by the military or found within coastal waters. Difficult negotiations between treasure hunters, investors who fund them and national jurisdictions can be long, protracted and bitter.

Still, there is a chance a treasure hunter will find gold or artifacts worth a lot of money. This chance for sudden wealth, aided by new technology, will boost the interest in shipwrecks for years to come.

U.S. Coast Survey Had Rocky Start, Now Vital to Mariners

Happy birthday to the U.S. Coast Survey, which is 216 years old on February 10^th! 

It was on this date in 1807 that Thomas Jefferson signed an act to provide for surveying the coasts of the United States. The Coast Survey work has continued from that day forward. Even today, the Coast Survey is active, now as part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Ferdinand Hassler (Photo courtesy of Virginia Center for Digital History)

A brief history of the Coast Survey

The process to survey U.S. coasts began when the U.S. looked quite different than today. In 1807, the U.S. consisted of just an Eastern seaboard and 17 states.

The man who started it all was Ferdinand Hassler. Once he got the job to be our country’s first coastal cartographer, Hassler realized he needed better equipment. It took until 1811 for him to get the funds. He promptly went to England that year to purchase the survey equipment. While in England, he got caught up in the War of 1812! Hassler couldn’t return to the U.S. and get started on his first coastline until 1817, six years after he had planned to begin the project. His first map was the New York coastline.

It wasn’t until 1832 that a civilian U.S. Coast Survey was established (which took away authority from the U.S. Navy). Hassler became superintendent.

Here are a few more interesting snippets from NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey:

• Coast Survey commissioned famed naturalist Louis Agassiz to conduct the first scientific study of the Florida reef system. 
• James McNeill Whistler, who went on to paint the iconic “Whistler’s Mother,” was a Coast Survey engraver. 
• Alexander Dallas Bache, great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin, was the second Coast Survey Superintendent. Bache was a physicist, scientist, and surveyor who established the first magnetic observatory and served as the first president of the National Academy of Sciences.

The work of charting our coasts continued through the Civil War, World War I and World War II. The Second World War, unlike any other time in our history, accelerated coastal mapping for wartime advantage. The Coast and Geodetic Survey (C&GS), as it was called during World War II, grew to about 10,000 employees. Many civilian members became commissioned officers. Together, they produced 100 million maps and charts for the Allied Forces. 

Hassler’s triangulated mapping of Long Island Sound. (Photo courtesy of NOAA)

In 1970, President Richard Nixon formed NOAA and folded in C&GS into the new scientific agency. Some of C&GS historical charts, in fact, can still be purchased.

Coastal charts are a huge aids to safe navigation

Thanks to this incredible ongoing effort over the past two centuries, a mariner can order any NOAA coastal chart online. Charts depict the configuration of the shoreline and seafloor. They also provide water depths, locations of dangers to navigation, locations and characteristics of aids to navigation, anchorages, and other features. 

For even greater detail, the 10-volume NOAA Coast Pilot Series can also be purchased. This series includes channel descriptions, anchorages, bridge and cable clearances, currents, tide and water levels, prominent features, pilotage, towage, weather, ice conditions, wharf descriptions, dangers, routes, traffic separation schemes, small-craft facilities, and Federal regulations applicable to navigation.

This wealth of information all started back in 1807, when coastal charting was done completely by hand, thanks to an act by Thomas Jefferson and a determined cartographer, Ferdinand Hassler. 

Plan Your Dream Boating Vacation Now

Did you know January 31 is National “Plan a Vacation Day?” There’s no better time to begin planning your dream boating vacation!

Start by picking a dream boating destination 

Your dream vacation doesn’t have to be exotic and expensive. For many travelers, a dream vacation can be going back to a familiar place they love. Knowing the spot can take a lot of the complexity out of the planning process. But for those yearning for something new, here are just five of hundreds of exotic dream boating vacations in the U.S. and around the world:

1. The San Juan Islands, United States

The San Juans are great for whale watching and are conveniently outfitted for sailing, power boating and charters. Small communities offer ready boater access and have some of the best restaurants on the West Coast. (NOAA Nautical Chart 18421)

Nautical chart of the San Juan Islands.

2. The Grenadines, Caribbean

Whether power boating or sailing, The Grenadines have 32 islands, deep blue waters and white sand beaches. (Imray Chart B-30).

3. Whitsunday Islands, Australia

Next to The Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea, this is an obvious mecca for snorkeling and diving. Tropical fish and sea turtles abound. (SHOM Nautical Chart SHOM6671)

4. Zanzibar, Tanzania

Also known as the Spice Island, Zanzibar is in the Indian Ocean. If you go in July, you can attend the Zanzibar International Film Festival. The temperature is nearly a constant 81 degrees. (NGA Nautical Chart 701).

Zanzibar is known for exotic spices and gourmet food. (Photo courtesy of @bmlabrosse via Instagram)

5. Annapolis, Maryland

Close to home, the waters of Annapolis are just off Chesapeake Bay. The bay is full of state parks and is an ideal spot for fishing, swimming, crabbing, hiking and social events. (NOAA Nautical Chart 12270).

To begin the vacation planning process, make a list of details to consider

Vacation planning can carry its own challenges. If the trip involves boating, special preparation and to-do lists are especially important. But a methodical planning effort will make that dream vacation a reality. 

Here are some key tasks to add when making that list:

• Renting a boat unless you have your own
• Preparing your boat for the trip
  • Checking fluid levels, hoses and fuel lines
  • Inspecting the hull
  • Testing the VHF radio
  • Making sure you have adequate fuel
  • Looking over the sails, rigging and lines
  • Firing up the generators to make sure they work
• Having access to accurate electronic charts and paper back-ups
• Packing the right clothing
• Updating passports if crossing international waters
• Arranging pet accommodations (or plan for them to join you!)
• Securing docking reservations and fees

The time to start is now

There is a lot to do to make that dream vacation a reality, which is probably why National Plan a Vacation Day is early in the year! So, start planning that dream boating vacation NOW! All the attention to detail will pay dividends when you actually get on the water and begin to enjoy that special trip.