409 Dive Log Australasia December 24

Hairy and soft Panda Crab

Schooling fish on the Deep Pete Triplane.

There are loads of great fish portraits to be captured here. I found Crocodile fish, Coral Trout, Sweetlips, several types of Clown fish and loads of different Angel and Butterfly Fish. In addition, there were lots of small Cod and Anthias. World War two wrecks New Ireland was a very important strategic spot during the Japanese invasion and the subsequent Allied counter insurgent movement during World War Two. As a result, it has a rich assortment of wrecks, especially planes. Deep Pete Deep Pete was only relocated a few years ago. This Mitsubishi Floatplane is forty metres deep and on the ocean side. Sapphire blue water makes this tiny reconnaissance plane a very appealing dive. It is festooned with golden coloured Big Eyed Snapper,

Sweetlips and Cod. These floatplanes were one of the last Bi-planes manufactured. They had a triple pontoon system. The large central float is largely destroyed. Two smaller floats on the wing tips stopped it from porpoising as it landed. The two sets of wings gave it great climbing ability and manoeuvrability in the air. These Bi-planes were versatile and could be used as bombers, escort or patrol planes. It was designed to be catapult launched from the deck of a ship. Once back at the mother ship, they were picked up by cranes. American pilots reported being engaged in dogfights with these Bi-planes and stated that they were ‘more than a match’ with the P39’s. The Deep Pete was used to fly ahead, out of range of the ships guns to check over the horizon enemy activity. As such, they were invaluable craft. They were almost certainly used immediately prior to the attack on Pearl Harbour for this ‘over the horizon surveillance’. Sanko Maru US and Allied forces bombed Kavieng from the air as part of the Island skipping policy of the Allies rather than using ground troops. They bombed supply ships and ground installations.

B eautiful Harp shell in two metres on the home reef.

Rob posing near the hatch of the mini sub.

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DIVE LOG Australasia #409 - December ‘24