A Series of Special Dives by Divers From North Carolina Aquarium In a Marine Sanctuary

By Pat Murphy

Manteo, NC- As part of an ongoing partnership between the NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary and the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, several Aquarium staff and volunteer scientific divers will participate in research dives within the first nationally designated marine sanctuary. All dives are planned on the wreck of USS Monitor August 1st thru August 7th, in waters over 230-feet deep approximately 16 miles off Cape Hatteras. The purpose of research expedition is to assist the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary identify and document emergent underwater biosphere issues, which will help in future management endeavors to protect sanctuary resources.

Archeology of the Monitor wreck site has been well investigated and documented, since there has been significant recovery of several large ship structural pieces along with numerous historical artifacts over the past couple of years. Interestingly enough an area of the Monitor that has been entirely overlooked to date is the underwater biosphere, specifically the various species of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, cnidarians and porifera that inhabit wreck.

Upcoming dive expedition will undertake a complete non-destructive and non-invasive inventory of the animal inhabitants, including the use of photography and film, which reside on or near the wreck of the Monitor. Those direct observations recorded will establish an inventory baseline of organisms found on the wreck that can be updated and modified as time and further expeditions will allow. Particular interest will be given to the number of native underwater plant and animal species found, distribution, population, and health. Additional emphasis will be place on identification and population numbers of invasive animal species such as Lionfish.

The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island current and former divers involved in the expedition include Dive Safety Officer Pat Murphy, Assistant Dive Safety Officer John Bright, Dive Board Member Alex Varouxis, plus Volunteer Staff Divers Vince Cook, Chip Holcomb, Pete Nawrocky, Bill McDermott, and Lamar Hires. Additional stewardship support besides North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island associated expedition dive volunteers will come from NOAA Monitor Marine Sanctuary, Smithsonian Institute, Outer Banks Dive Center, Ocean Explorer Charters, Associated Design, and Dive Rite.

The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island Dive Program is an organizational member of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) whose purpose is to advance the goals of scientific research and education through the safest possible diving practices.

Those certified divers 16 years of age and over, from a nationally recognized recreational certification agency to a minimum depth of 60-foot, interested in becoming a volunteer diver for the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island may contact Dive Safety Officer Pat Murphy at 252/473-3494 x252.

Photo: NOAA

To view North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to:  http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-2025-North_Carolina_Aquarium_on_Roanoke_Island