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S.O.S. is a Provincial Heritage Organization in Ontario dedicated to the
study, preservation and promotion of an appreciation of Ontario's marine heritage.

Updated: 10 Nov 2009
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S.O.S. wants to know...

What is your primary perception of S.O.S.?

SOS Project and Event Insurance through OUC
details

Dive To Preserve
READ ALL ABOUT IT !

SOS & OUC
2 provincial organizations
working together to improve
Ontario Diving for you!
Join NOW

A MUST READ
This is why we teach:
leave it where it sits - Please !

(483 kb in PDF - get Adobe Reader)

Fully updated with Bill 179,
Alvin Clark demise,
Breadalbane wheel story
and about stray anchors

LOW IMPACT DIVING
A PADI Distinctive Specialty
COURSE MATERIALS AVAILABLE
TO DOWNLOAD

Summary of
Marine Heritage Consultations

SOS BYLAW #2

Ontario
Heritage Act
& Changes

Daily Shipwreck Geek

This sister of the Bismarck was bombed and sunk while at anchor in Norway by the RAF in 1944.

Blucher

Tirpitz

Prinz Eugen

Lutzow

View Answers

THE
UNESCO
CONVENTION

HELP
WANTED
become a member

Advanced Professional Development Workshop
Canadian Conservation Institute

Archaeological Conservation:
Specialized Techniques and Research for Wet Objects
September 21-24 Event Details

Counts as NAS 3 - 16 points (NAS 1 prerequisite)

S.O.S. NAS Tutor Training was held May 9 and 10th... Class photo

From left to right: Marc-André Bernier (Senior NAS Tutor for Canada),
S.O.S. NAS Tutors: Brian Prince, Marg Barker, David Taylor, Bryan Thomas,
Chris Phinney (SOS Senior Tutor), Nadine Kopp, Brandi Lockhart, Chris Holloway,
Nathalie Lasselin, Ben Holthof

S.O.S. NAS Introduction & Level 1 Courses for 2009: (Event Details)
July 3-5 Hamilton Chapter August 28-30 Huron Shores Chapter
July 24-26 Ottawa Chapter Sept 25-27 Ottawa Chapter

The Ministry of Culture is pleased to announce that Dr. Simon Q. Spooner has joined the Culture Services Unit, Programs and Services Branch, as Marine Heritage Advisor.

Simon, who has extensive field experience, holds a PhD in Maritime Archaeology from the University of Bristol. Recently he has been advising the governments of France and the Dominican Republic on the protection of historic shipwrecks. Prior to becoming involved in archaeology he worked in London (UK) as a Chartered Surveyor.

Dr. Spooner is co-founder and President of the Anglo~Danish Maritime Archaeological Team (ADMAT), a

non-profit organization (based in Surrey, England and Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic) working on the investigation and preservation of historic shipwrecks in the Caribbean. He is also the President of ADMAT-FRANCE and Vice President of ADMAT USA.

In April 2003 he directed the White House Bay Wreck (1783) survey and excavation in St Kitts, which is believed to be a 1740’s English Troopship sunk in 1782. In 2005 he directed The Button Wreck (1740’s) survey in the Florida Keys where they uncovered a possible English Frigate on top of the reefs. In 2006-9 he directed the important survey and research work in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic on: The Tile Wreck (1720’s), Faience Wreck (1760), Le Casimir (1829), Le Dragon (1783).

Dr. Spooner's doctorial thesis was entitled “Maritime Taphonomy – A study of historic shipwreck formation process on the north coast of the Dominican Republic from 1563 to 1829”. He holds a BSc and is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, as well as joining The Institute of Field Archaeologists. Dr. Spooner is a member of the Nautical Archaeological Society.

SOS Martine Heritage Award 2009

For their dedication to
Marine Heritage

Rick Neilson (left)
Walter Lewis (right)

Presented by:
Brian Prince (middle)

DETAILS

SOS Directors Achievement Award 2009

For his 20 Years
service to SOS
in many roles

Bernie Roy (right)

Presented by:
Brian Prince (left)

DETAILS

SOS PRESS RELEASE (.pdf)

Saving Shipwrecks Through Education

February 10th, 2009 – Ottawa, Ontario Canada

HMCS Terra Nova - sinking in 1000 Islands
SIGN THE PETITION !!!

This will help reduce heavy diver impact on local heritage sites!
372ft (114m) long, 7 decks, 120 opened compartments to explore!

SOS Marine Heritage Shipwreck Database
Now online
2nd button on the left column

Many thanks to our database volunteer Tom Wilson (of Brockville)

HELP make a difference !

Event Coordinator - Province wide - shows, accommodations etc.
Chapter Membership Directors
Buoy directors around the province
Mooring systems lead
U/W Video
Side Scan owner/operators
Call us, to discuss other ways to help
Divers and Non-Divers needed
Business law advisor

Many thanks for helping out!

VP & Public Relations - FILLED by Michael Hill
Multi Media Project - FILLED by Chris Phinney
Newsletter Editor - FILLED by Krissy Nickle
Web Database Programmer - FILLED by Tom Wilson
SOS Historical Document Project - FILLED by Steve Mombourquette
with cross reference help from Jim Hopkins - CROSS-REFERENCE

Contact:

Low Impact diving means not touching or bumping heritage sites which include shipwrecks and other submerged structures. The wood and steel are particularly sensitive to erosion and damage. Silt actually preserves objects and disturbing the silt (uncovering) timbers, metals, and objects escalates the deterioration processes exponentially. Not to mention is it illegal to disturb the silt or even move an object from one location to another (even on the same site). Bringing it home WILL get you in hot water - and not the bubbly bathtub type!

The use of U/W metal detectors or side-scan equipment is a form of surveying and may require a license to use them. Typically a license is required if you intentionally set out to search for something of historic or heritage value. In the case of a U/W metal detector, if you get a hit below the silt and dig for it, you've crossed the line. Looking for a lost wedding ring with a metal detector or a recently lost dive ladder with side-scan is a different situation.

If you witness: anything being removed from a heritage site, or anything else marine heritage related like an anchor or ship part being removed from the water; or any damage or digging on a site; PLEASE ( it's your duty ) call Crime Stoppers or the OPP immediately !

OPP 1-888-310-1122 CRIME STOPPERS 1-800-222-TIPS

Keep SOS in the loop - let us know too!

READ & LEARN IT HERE

LOW IMPACT DIVING

The SIR ROBERT GASKIN suffers a blow !!!

Diver impact has taken a toll on the Robert Gaskin in Brockville. Two large sections of starboard side planking and frames have fallen. One at the stern inward and the one pictured here at the bow outward. This site and many like her will never be the same.

HELP S.O.S. SPREAD THE WORD
Low impact diving is a must on these fragile non-renewable cultural resources.
Do not touch with more than a finger. Do not disturb the silt.
Photograph & Report - digging, damage & stealing of cultural objects.


May 2007 - diver touching the fragile wreck with only good intentions.	June 2007 - Bow collapses! A stern section too!
photos courtesy © 2007
Don't wreck the wrecks! Be a Low Impact Diver!

SOS at the Toronto Outdoor Adventure show 2005-2008... visit us in 2010
click images to enlarge - photos by Brian Prince, Tom Rutledge

Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but bubbles, and give our past a future ! ! !

Save Ontario Shipwrecks gratefully acknowledge the Ministry of Culture, Heritage Branch and our many sponsors for their support.
We also gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Culture, which receives annually $100 million in government funding generated through Ontario's charity casino initiative.

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*SOS headquarters* address:** Save Ontario Shipwrecks P.O. BOX 2389, Blenheim, Ontario N0P 1A0	*SOS membership* address:** Save Ontario Shipwrecks 18 Ada Crescent R.R. # 2 Tobermory, Ontario N0H 2R0
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