SOS Streaming Video :: Baby Jane

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"What's Going to Happen to Baby Jane?"

The JANE is a small “baby” freighter (around 60’ long) that sank in Lake Michigan on May 30, 1927 in around 100’ of water.

The film was produced and directed by long time SOS Windsor member Mike Spears with much help from other members of the Windsor Chapter, such as long time President, John Karry.  Much technical assistance was provided by former Ontario Provincial Underwater Archaeologist, Peter Engelbert.  Peter’s “10 Ways to be a Low Impact Diver” were used as part of the framework of the film. (Had we gotten Peter’s 10 ways earlier, they would have been more prominent in the film. Since the film was almost complete, we worked them in as best we could.)  Also, prominent SOS Member, the late Joyce Hayward narrated the film. (SOS can rightfully claim a great deal of credit for this film.)

The setting for the story is Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit where a panel of concerned divers view video footage of the wreck, discuss shipwreck preservation issues and introduce a new concept in shipwreck diving, called “Low Impact Diving.”

  • The guideline "Don't Steal Artifacts" has Serious Shortcomings!
  • The few divers who insist on stealing are stealing from us all!
  • Significant amount of NEEDLESS DAMAGE is being done!

NEW  APPROACH  to preserving heritage sites:
" LOW   IMPACT   DIVING "

  • Fine tune diving skills - especially buoyancy control
  • Avoid contact with the site
  • Treat like FRAGILE  IRREPLACEABLE  TIME  CAPSULE
  • Leave site exactly as it was found for future visitors
  • Take pride in our rich Great Lakes maritime heritage

Please dive our shipwrecks and enjoy them, but leave them as you found them.
Narrated by the late Joyce Hayward (a 2 time SOS Directors Award recipient).
(film shown here with permission)      Copyright © 2002 Mike Speers - All Rights Reserved

The purpose of the film is to make divers aware that there is much more to preserving shipwrecks than just leaving the artifacts on them.  Other common actions by divers that cause unnecessary damage to wrecks are:

  • Moving artifacts around on wrecks

  • Contacting wrecks with their bodies or their equipment

  • Failing to control their buoyancy

  • Brushing away silt

  • Turning the ship’s wheel or pulling on levers

  • Improper anchoring or mooring into wrecks

Most of this damage is unintentional, as most divers are unaware that these numerous other actions are causing damage to wrecks. Divers need to be aware of these other concerns so that this damage may be avoided. 

Divers also need to understand their “root attitudes” toward shipwrecks:  Do they view shipwrecks as “underwater trash heaps” or do they view them as “valuable, irreplaceable cultural resources.”  

The goal of the film is:

  • convince divers to understand these other causes of damage

  • take a deeper look at their attitudes and behavior while diving shipwrecks

  • to convince those few divers who are doing damage to change their behavior while diving shipwrecks

  • to actively promote preservation of shipwrecks and to take pride in our marine heritage

  • The ultimate goal is for divers to embrace “Low Impact Diving”

READ & LEARN  IT  HERE

 LOW  IMPACT  DIVING

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