Mystery surrounds sunken ships, with tales of lost treasure or historical artifacts. The topic has been popularized by the movie series “Pirates of the Caribbean,” with its portrayal of The Flying Dutchman and Davy Jones’ Locker legends. Study of submerged vessels can lead even to fascinating vacation opportunities.
The Granddaddy of Sunken Ships
The story of the Titanic’s sinking is the indisputable champion of sunken ship stories. “Titanic” film director James Cameron continues the story with documentary footage on cable television’s Discovery Channel of undersea efforts to study the vessel’s wreckage.
The Graveyard of the Atlantic
The waters off of North Carolina’s barrier islands, known as the The Graveyard of the Atlantic, offers great access to historical data on actual sunken vessels. More than 2,000 ships have sunk in these waters since people began keeping records in 1526, according to a North Carolina tourism website.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
A visit to Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina, provides an excellent and accessible vacation if you are interested in learning more about all things seagoing and sunken ships while enjoying the solace of undisturbed stretches of beach. The National Park Service administers this area.
Sunken Ship Retrieval
Technological advances have made retrieval a possibility even for those vessels at great depths under the sea. However, there is also an ethical concern for those who went down with the ship. Wrecks like the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor are sacred memorials for ship and crew and remain undisturbed.
The Roster Grows
Sites such as Sunken Ships: Dedicated to Those Lost at Sea offer a constantly updated list of vessels that have been, and continue to be, claimed by the depths.
