DeepStar.ca
Title
Deep Star Exploration, Nova Scotia Shipwreck research, survey, recovery and development business
Description
Deep Star has been involved in the shipwreck and underwater survey business since 1993 when it was awarded a 60 day contract from Jacques Whitford Environmental to survey 2 shipwrecks as part of the first Halifax Harbour Clean Up project. Both shipwrecks were first discovered by Gordon Fader and Bob O Miller at the Atlantic Geoscience Center at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography during their survey on the first phase of the Halifax Harbour Clean up. Both shipwrecks were located at a depth of 100 feet of water right in the middle of the shipping lanes, one near the Halterm Container Pier and the other near Ives Knoll. As a result of our survey, it was determined that one shipwreck was identified as the 220 foot salvage and sealing schooner, Havana (above photo) which belonged to Captain Farquar. This shipwreck was deemed of historic interest and a full scale survey was carried out resulting in over 30 dives to a depth of 100 feet in January and February of 1994. The other shipwreck turned out to be the 100 foot fishing schooner, Gertrude De Costa, a Sweeny boat out of Yarmouth that was accidentally rammed and sank as it was entering the harbour in 1950.
In 1995 & 1996 Deep Star was awarded a grant to survey shipwrecks around Nova Scotia for the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History under a pilot program called Operation Wreckfind. Over the past 12 years, Deep Star has successfully searched for and documented many known shipwrecks and we have discovered many new ones along the way.
Company founder and President Terry Dwyer is an adventurer, entrepreneur, wreck diver, explorer, historian, author and underwater videographer with 23 years of extensive and varied experience in the Canadian Scuba Diving Industry. He has authored and published numerous articles on shipwrecks and shipwreck diving in Nova Scotia and he is one of the foremost authorities on scuba tourism development. Terry has also served as an expert witness, diving operations and diving equipment consultant for the RCMP, various Police Forces and Fire Departments and many other Federal and Provincial organizations and agencies. He has just written a book entitled "Wreck Hunter - Quest for Lost Shipwrecks, published by Pottersfield Press. It is now available in book stores through out Nova Scotia
