DIVE LOG JUNE 2025 issue 412

My Visits to Pearl Harbor Ships moored in Pearl Harbor at Honolulu on the island of Ohahu, Hawaii were attacked by two waves of Japanese war planes on 7 th December 1941. 18 vessels were either sunk or damaged, including eight battleships. Five Japanese midget submarines were also deployed from five “mother submarines”. At least two of the midget subs were able to enter Pearl Harbor by following ships into the harbor whilst the submarine nets were open. National Geographic’s “Oil and Honor at Pearl Harbor” by Prit J. Visilind details the attack by the Japanese, including the submarine attacks, and the damage that occurred. The well-known diver and photographer, David Doubilet provided many of the underwater photos for the article. Further details can be found online by searching www.nationalgeographic.com/pearlharbor . The 50-page 1974 publication “Pearl Harbor Story – Authentic information and pictures of the attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941” by Captain William T. Rice (USNR Retired) also provides a great deal of information. Memorials have been built for some of the ships that were damaged. The Pearl Harbor National Memorial is located by the USS Arizona. I visited Pearl Harbor and the National Memorial in 2015. Twice actually, once by bus and another by a helicopter flight. It was during both of these visits that I was able to take these photos: Authentic Information and pictures of the attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941” by Captain William T. Rice (1965, 1970 & 1974) was the tenth printing of the booklet. Below: Partial ‘before and after’ drawings of the USS Arizona by Don Foley as featured in “Oil and Honor at Pearl Harbor” by Priit J. Vesilind

Ship memorials from the deck of the USS Missouri. The nearest memorial on the left is the USS West Virginia.

Below: The USS Arizona featured in “Pearl Harbor Story” by Captain William T. Rice The Pearl Harbor National Memorial, seen from the helicopter. The outline of the sunken USS Arizona and oil leaking from it .

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DIVE LOG Australasia #412 June 25

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