Annapolis was sold to the British Columbia Artificial Reef Society in 2008. On April 4, 2015, she was sunk as an artificial reef and long-term marine sanctuary in Halkett Bay Provincial Park off Gambier Island in Howe Sound, following several years of legal disputes over environmental concerns. The wreck is upright on the seabed at a depth of 32 metres (105 feet), with the top of the ship reaching a depth of 10.5 metres (34 ft).
Read The Scuba News Canada article on the sinking of the Annapolis
This video shows penetration of the wreck making a direct ascent to the surface impossible for a part of the dive.
There are three types of penetration diving:
- Non-intrusive diving (i.e. swimming outside the wreck)
- Limited penetration diving within the “light zone,” or areas of the wreck’s interior where light entering from an exit can be seen. Parts of the interior may be illuminated by exterior light passing through holes too small to exit through, and these are not generally considered part of the light zone because they cannot be used as an escape route. Limited penetration restricts penetration to the point where the diver can see a way out.
- Beyond the “light zone,” full penetration diving
Penetration diving, in which the diver enters a shipwreck, is an activity that exposes the diver to the risks of becoming lost, entrapped, and, as a result, running out of breathing gas. The management of these risks necessitates the use of specialized skills and equipment. Many visually appealing or well-preserved wrecks are in deeper water, necessitating deep diving precautions. Training agencies recommend carrying at least one cutting device in case the diver becomes entangled with fishing lines, nets, or ropes, as well as a backup light source in case the primary light fails. Training agencies require a guideline tied off before entering a wreck and running out inside the wreck when penetrating it.
To dive inside a wreck with an overhead environment, specialized training (penetration diving) is required. With the proper training and diving equipment, penetration diving can be a delightful diving experience. A primary light, a secondary light, and a positioning light are the most important components. A primary reel, a safety reel, and a jump/gap reel are also included. Double tanks are standard, even with stage bottles, depending on the dive plan. A sport diving helmet provides excellent protection. Gloves are used to protect against sharp metal fragments. Furthermore, all of the equipment must be assembled compactly so that no parts become entangled. Rubber bands or fastening hooks are required for this purpose. For this purpose, rubber bands or fastening hooks are necessary. Many divers are taught alternative finning techniques such as frog kick or modified flutter kick, which direct the thrust of the fins away from the bottom, where the majority of the silt is likely to deposit. Good buoyancy control is required for safe and non-destructive diving in a wreck environment.
“Scuba diving is very much a black and white world in terms of the laws and rules one must abide by.”
– Carlos Eyles.
YouTube Video: The Greg Escape