Exploration

Side Scan of FG-1D Corsair debris field in Lake Washington

Ben Griner — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:01:33 +0000

This image shows the location of the FG-1D Corsair in Lake Washington. Located just off shore with access from shore for divers this site is primarily a debris field. Most of the artifacts associated with this plane remain scattered throughout the debris field and while a popular dive site the notoriously poor visibility of Lake Washington has protected this wreck.

Underwater Forest in Lake Washington

Ben Griner — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:00:23 +0000

The below image is of an area listed as an underwater forest. Most of these areas contain cut timber that sank during early logging efforts along the lake and can often be found where log booms were stored for shipment. While most of the timber in this image has been cut you can still see shadowing from standing or partially standing trees.

Wreck of the passenger steamer Falcon in Lake Washington

Ben Griner — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:00:20 +0000

This image is of the passenger steamer Falcon resting in 200' fresh water in Lake Washington. This steamer last served on Lake Washington as a passenger ferry. It is unknown how it came to rest on the bottom but the wreck does appear to have been stripped of anything valuable prior to sinking.

Side scan data of Leschi wall in Seattle

Ben Griner — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:00:41 +0000

This image is of a popular training site in Lake Washington. Access is from shore between the swimming dock at Madrona Park. This site has many rock faces and drops quickly from 70' to 205'. The erosion channel you see is just to the north of the speed warning buoy. To the south the bottom becomes sediment slopes at around 180' but to the North rock face continues to 200' before becoming a flat mud landscape. With rare days of ambient light below 70', very silty rock face and bottom, rapid drops, and vertigo inducing water color this makes for a very good technical diving training site.

New Wreck found in Lake Washington

Ben Griner — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:00:33 +0000

This image is of Target 420. It is located in 200' of fresh water and is in the area where we are looking for a historically significant wreck. Despite a close pass with a towfish in the top image the shadow is not as strong as hoped. There is clearly deck structure but the layout is not fully clear. The image is showing a hard roof remains intact and is reflecting strongly. Significant erosion at the stern is evident from the gently lake currents moving the mud.

The other two images were taken to show other structural components. The second image shows a hull shape similar to a large sailboat and the bottom image shows what may be a mast that has collapsed forward.

Cannery Tender Debris Field

Ben Griner — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:01:01 +0000

The below side scan image was taken to look at the debris field around the cannery tender. This wreck appears to have struck stern first while sinking. The large debris item behind the wreck gives a hard return but poor shadowing. It is likely this is hull planking laying in the mud.

Wreck of the Fresno in Lake Washington

Ben Griner — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:00:20 +0000

This is image is a sidescan image of the whaling ship Fresno. The Fresno caught fire while at dock in 1923 and was a total loss. The ship was scuttled in 180 feet of water in Madenbauer Bay and broke apart either during the sinking or, more likely, impacting with the bottom.

This image was taken with a hull mounted transducer in rough conditions. You can see the waves in the rocky hillside at the top of the image.

Side scan mapping of shore to PV2 Harpoon in Lake Washington

Ben Griner — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:00:10 +0000

Derelict fishing net - Lake Union

Ben Griner — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 01:45:15 +0000

This image is a derelict fishing net in Lake Union, Seattle. The the side scan picks up the floats and the heavier rope along the top of the net. The net is floating straight but looks to have an angle to it because of the angles the side scan sonar hits the target.

Wreck of the Louie

Ben Griner — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:00:28 +0000

The Louie is a popular wreck. Here is a side scan image showing the location of the wreck in relation to the near by marina.

Coordinates: N47 39.344' W122 12.644