Princes Arch Pinnacle sponge and gorgonian garden at approximately 55 metres depth. Photo courtesy of Neil Walker

 



Princes Arch Pinnacle sponge and gorgonian garden at approximately 55 metres depth. Photo courtesy of Neil Walker
 


We risked our lives to get this pile of priceless coins. By "priceless" I mean that you'd struggle to find anyone who'd give you any real money for them. Photo courtesy of Neil Walker


Highly respected veteran diver - NOT! I was busy secretly stealing a few coins from the other divers when I was caught red handed in this photo. Photo courtesy of Neil Walker

 



West Island, to the left of centre, is the loaction of the SS Elingamite wreck site. As you poke your nose around the right had (western) end of the island sea conditions usually deteriorate markedly. Photo courtesy of Neil Walker


Half crown coin with imprint in "crud" iron oxide concretion. Photo courtesy of Neil Walker
 


Diving for coins is really hard work. The conditions are often horrendous, the sacrifices are huge, we go without, we suffer.



South West Island (to the left) and the Princes Islands (to right) viewed from the north or north east
 


In bygone years this man would have found work in a circus. For obvious reasons he hides himself away. We let him come diving with us occasionally but only if he lets us plunder his shipwreck.



Mollie at anchor in the Princes Group. West Island, location of the wreck site, is in the background to the left
 


Mollie at anchor in the Princes Group


Three Kings Islands chart NZ4111

DOWNLOAD high resolution .tif (3,030KB) (right click and save to hard disk recommended)
 


Video (14MB Flash movie- BIG) footage of Skip descending to the SS Elingamite wreck site. Listen for "Neil . . . . Neil . . . . NEIL . . . . . NEIL!". I forgot to plug in my drysuit inflator hose and am getting quite an uncomfortabe squeeze at 38 metres. Video footage courtesy of Neil Walker



Video (54MB Flash movie - REAL BIG) footage of Skip and Ian W on the wreck site. For a while I am struggling with the damn scooter which has the control switch stuck in the ON position and cannot be truned off. Video footage courtesy of Neil Walker
 



Divers descend through a school of Pink Mao Mao (Caprodon longimanus) at the Princes Arch Pinnacle. Video footage courtesy of Neil Walker (6MB Flash movie)

Entrance to Dury's Dream Pipe. Video footage courtesy of Neil Walker (11MB Flash movie- BIG)


 
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