Bell Island Wrecks
Newfoundland, Canada (AKA Truk Lagoon North)
When I first heard about a dive trip to Newfoundland to dive Bell Island Wrecks, I was intrigued. The trip leader was talking about intact wrecks with rich history, very good visibility and abundant marine life. In addition, icebergs and whales were supposed to be plentiful in July, at the time of the trip. Having always wanted to visit Newfoundland, I figured that even if the wrecks would disappoint, then at least I would get to see my first ever iceberg and/or whale.
Well, apparently, Mother Nature had other plans and did not bother making enough ice up North, so there were no icebergs near Bell Island. And after a number of exiting hours riding the zodiac and hallutinating about the whales whilst staring into the fog and empty ocean, I came to realize that I was not going to see the whales either. And the wrecks? The wrecks exceeded my wildest expectations.
Other than a few extra exits and entrances made by torpedoes in the hulls of the ships, they were in amazingly intact shape with superstructures, cargo holds, engine rooms, anchors, rudders and other features still present on most of them. Props have been salvaged in earlier decades from all but PLM, and that prop was stunning. The marine growth on the deeper two was unbelievable and reminded me of Truk Lagoon - Rose Castle even has some soft corals.
Updated July 2006 - came back from my second trip and finally got the picture of the telegraph in Rose Castle's engine room. More pictires of the torpedo and soft corals added to Rose Castle page and other pages updated. Also got to dive the remains of three whale boats and a place called Beacon Cove with some incredible marine life (see Newfoundland macro page).
| S.S. Rose Castle
|
S.S. Lord
Strathcona
|
S.S. Saganaga
|
S.S. P.L.M. 27
|
