Posted by James on August 14, 2002 at 17:51:16:
I have been diving the areas of So. Calif for the last 30 years especially Redondo and Palos Verdes. The Landing Craft used to be one of the most spectactular dives to see when the Viz was good. Tons of fish, two giant engines, lots of big Lobsters and TWO LARGE BRASS PROPELLERS! We dove that site hundreds of times, never tiring of the sights and game to be found.
Then someone showed a certain group from the CALIF WRECK DIVERS the spot and "they decided" that the Landing Craft could not stay in the condition that we all knew it to be. They decided that they had the RIGHT to remove not only both the BRASS PROPELLERS, but also they needed to tear open the deck so they could more easily get to the Lobsters that could easily hide underneath.
Today the Landing Craft is not much more than a giant hulk of RUSTING METAL. Few Lobsters hide there anymore because it is so opened up, providing them less protection. And when the CALIF WRECK DIVERS tell you they only remove items that would be lost to the sea so they could display them for all to see, ask them where the PROPELLERS are displayed. Answer : ONE was made into a table that sits in one of the CALIF WRECK DIVERS living rooms for none of us old divers to ever see again! Only they know where the other one sits.