DAY TWO - SECOND DIVE
THE WRECK OF THE MV SHAK EM
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The dive group split up this a.m. Four of TEAM MANTA (John, Nikki, Terri & Neal) dove MV SHAK EM; the rest dove Quarter wreck. Then they all dove Rainbow Reef.
Most of the rest of TEAM MANTA (including the two NEWLY-CERTIFIED DIVERS, Ramundo & Casey) did an afternoon dive today; Neal did not, but tomorrow he'll be doing a two-tank afternoon dive with that group.
One of the dives tomorrow afternoon will be a site survey for the night dive.
MV Shak Em or SHARK ELM
This 180' cargo ship was transporting cement to the port of St.George in 2001. The vessel was overloaded, and the cargo shifted which resulted in the ship sinking within sight of the harbor. It is sitting intact on the bottom in 100' of water, only a five-minute boat ride from our Grenada dive shop. Even though it has been on the bottom a short time, it is already home to schools of barracudas and the entire hull is quickly becoming a new reef. This dive is for the experienced diver, and is unique in that it lies on the bottom intact and fully loaded with cargo.
The Shak Em is a recent casualty, sinking in 2001 and has the possibility of plenty of penetration. The ships cargo was concrete, which can still be seen in the holds. It sank when the cargo shifted as a result of being overloaded, whilst in sight of the harbour. The ship lies upright, both anchors are down with the anchor chains still connected and there is a crane midships. If you drop onto the stern it is possible to work your way through the cabin decks and down into the lower rooms. On the second deck there is a generator room at the rear, but it is dark down here so a torch is essential. The entrance to the engine room is on the starboard, holding a large engine and some tool kits. Despite it sinking recently, there is already a lot of life established on it including barracuda.
The stern of . . .
. . . the MV Shak Em
Nikki goes over the wheelhouse
One of the scuppers from outside looking in
Scupper: A drainage hole on the deck of a ship
Nikki over the hold near the middle of the ship;
Terri inspects the derrick
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CONTINUE DIVING IN GRENADA
WITH MANTA DIVERS HERE