Andrea Doria Bell recovered on TDL Expedition

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JS1scuba

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June 26, 2010

Andrea Doria Bell Recovered

The famous oceanliner shipwreck Andrea Doria that sunk in 1956 in the Atlantic Ocean still gives up treasures. Today aboard the R/V Explorer on the Silverstein/Sutton 2010 Andrea Doria Expedition divers Ernest Rookey and Carl Bayer located and recovered a bell from the Andrea Doria. This particular bell is suspected to be the "crows nest bell." The divers searched the debris field in 240 feet of water while diving on untethered mixed gas scuba gear, and located a small portion of the bell exposed from the sand.

On-board this expedition was noted Andrea Doria historian and popular author Gary Gentile. Gary was the lead diver in the 1985 recovery of the stern bell. Other attempts to locate the forward bell in 1993 were unsucessful. "There was never any proof that a crows nest bell existed until today." said Gentile who has been diving the wreck since 1974 and has more documented dives on the Andrea Doria than any other diver. "This is an outstanding and historic find," said expedtion leader Joel Silverstein. "In my 18 years of of diving the Doria this is probably the most significant artifact found," he added.

"Ernest Rookey (Jackson, NJ) and Carl Bayer (Hillsborough, NJ) are both experienced deep mixed gas divers. This was their first expedition to the Andrea Doria." said Captain David Sutton. "Andrea Doria expeditions are hard core adventures; a discovery like this one just makes it all that more special," he added.

Expedition participants include: Captain David Sutton, Joel Silverstein, Gary Gentile, Chris Gini, Kathy Mallon, Laila Richard, Carl Bayer, Ernest Rookey and Ric Simon.

The Andrea Doria is located 55 miles off the coast of Nantuket in 250 feet of water. It's been called the Mt. Everest of Diving due to its location, depth and extreme conditions

Contact: Joel Silverstein 928-230-3680 Tech Diving Limited Tech Diving Limited, a subsidiary of Scuba Training and Technology Inc.
 

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JS1scuba,

Is that you in the pics? You were on the team? Congrats to all involved.
 
Congratulations Joel! Do they have to turn the bell over to the salvage rights holder?

Were they looking specifically for the bell?
 
That is simply amazing, after all these years and so many searching for it.

Congratulations to the team.
 
June 26, 2010

"Ernest Rookey (Jackson, NJ) and Carl Bayer (Hillsborough, NJ) are both experienced deep mixed gas divers. This was their first expedition to the Andrea Doria

Joel,

Nice to see that you do eventually got around to give credit the divers that actually recovered the bell.

Nice job Ernie and Carl. Two Northeast divers that we all hate and love at the same time. Don't get me wrong, they are both great guys, dive buddies, and excellent divers!

It could not happen to two nicer guys!

Dave
 
Joel,

Nice to see that you do eventually got around to give credit the divers that actually recovered the bell.

June 26, 2010

Andrea Doria Bell Recovered

The famous oceanliner shipwreck Andrea Doria that sunk in 1956 in the Atlantic Ocean still gives up treasures. Today aboard the R/V Explorer on the Silverstein/Sutton 2010 Andrea Doria Expedition divers Ernest Rookey and Carl Bayer located and recovered a bell from the Andrea Doria.

"Ernest Rookey (Jackson, NJ) and Carl Bayer (Hillsborough, NJ) are both experienced deep mixed gas divers. This was their first expedition to the Andrea Doria." said Captain David Sutton. "[/url]

You might notice that they are named twice starting with the 2nd sentence, the first sentence being a basic opening.
 
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Great job, Joel.

When I saw the thread title I thought somebody had finally recovered the bow bell, but I guess she is still down there somewhere...
 
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