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Capt.
Dan Berg's Wreck Valley Collection
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 The
Bald Eagle is another of Wreck Valley's unidentified shipwrecks. Her
low lying wood wreckage sits in 85 feet of water, 14 miles out of
Jones Inlet NY and only a short run from Manasquan Inlet NJ. Her
true identity or even why she was given her name may never be known.
For over 20 years I have run my boat over this wreck on the way to
offshore dives or to let my mates jump in to catch lobsters. I even
did a side scan sonar survey of the wreck last year. However, for
one reason or another it was not until earlier this year (1999) that
I actually jumped in and explored the Bald Eagle Wreck for myself.
What I found was a fascinating shipwreck, loaded with lobsters,
bottles and artifacts. Now I wonder why I waited so long.
At 6:30 am on a Tuesday morning divers Jim Mandato, Aaron Hirsh,
Mel Brenner, Fred Bellise and I headed out to make a morning dive
before work. Fred suggested the Bald Eagle because he had never been
on the wreck either. The ocean was flat calm with the surface
bubbling up a transparent blue in the Wreck Valley’s wake. Less then
an hour latter we dropped the grapple and hooked into the wreck on
the first shot. Fred descended first to secure the grapple into the
wreck. Once Fred’s work was done Jim and I descended. As we
approached the bottom the wreck materialized before us. We had at
least 40’ visibility. We were anchored on the edge of a fairly large
double banked wood hull. A huge pile of small square cobble stones
were piled high just next to our anchor. Jim started to search for
lobsters along the wreck edge, carefully looking into each hole with
his powerful light. The ribs and double planked hull made numerous
holes. Each contained a lobster, or ling cod. As we continued we
spotted several large bugs in the 8-10 pound range, but these were
in deep holes and could not be reached. Navigation was fairly simple
due to the distinct edge and excellent visibility. The wreckage we
were hook into was about 150 feet long and almost 25 feet wide.
 The
pile of stones was about 40’x20’ and almost 10’ high. This was not
however the entire wreck. As we rounded one end and headed back up
the other side we found another large piece of wreckage about 20
feet away. These two main pcs angle together and join on one end.
While trying to get a feel as to the wrecks layout Jim and I caught
six lobsters and found a small medicine bottle and a brass valve.
Aaron and Mel also returned with lobsters and bottles. Fred had the
best find of the day, a small round brass container. It was probably
a pill or snuff box. After the dive we compared notes and tried to
figure what type of vessel she was. No one had found any machinery,
but we also did not find any masts or sign of sail power. Therefore,
we think this wreck was a converted schooner barge. She was most
likely transporting a cargo of cobble stones when she went down. The
bottles and other small artifacts which all date from the 1920’s are
most likely not from the wreck but rather the result of years of
garbage dumping from NY City. Many other wrecks in the area like the
Three Sisters, RC Mohawk,
Pilot Boat, and Asfalto also hold bottles
that originate form 1920’s vintage garbage dumping. For a season
that has been plagued with strong winds and not the best dive
conditions. Our early morning trip to the Bald Eagle turned out to
be one of the most productive as well as interesting dives of the
season. For divers interested in diving the Bald Eagle several boat
run trips. Capt. Bill Readon from the Jeaniee II in Brooklyn hits it
most often. Out of NJ try Capt. Steve Nagiewicz from the Diversion
II or on Long Island the Wreck Valley. I am definitely not going to
wait another 20 years before returning to this beautiful wood hulled
shipwreck.
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Capt. Ed Slater with a small china bowl recovered from the Bald Eagle Shipwreck. Photo by Dan Berg.
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Mel Brenner with artifacts from the Bald Eagle Shipwreck.
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Bald Eagle and Ghost wreck. Image by Dan Berg and Aaron Hirsh
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The new Ghost Wreck which can be found off the west edge of the Bald Eagle shipwreck. Copyright Dan Berg and Aaron Hirsh.
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Fred "The Beard" Bellise with a brass snuff box from the Bald Eagle. Photo by Dan Berg
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Photos: Sketch
of the Bald Eagle Shipwreck. Copyright Dan Berg and Aaron Hirsh.
Mark Wenzel with a beautiful intact china statue recovered from the
Bald Eagle shipwreck in 2002. Photo by Dan Berg.
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Aqua Explorers
Inc.
2745 Cheshire Dr
Baldwin NY 11510
Phone/Fax 516 868-2658
E-Mail
Wreckvalle@aol.com
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All
photographs, sketches, images and text |
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Copyright Capt. Dan Berg / Aqua Explorers Inc |
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2745
Cheshire Dr
Baldwin NY 11510
E-Mail Wreckvalle@aol.com |
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