Sunken vessels have always sparked curiosity and fascination among maritime enthusiasts and diving alike. In Onset, Massachusetts, I’ve come across rumors of a mysterious sunken vessel that I couldn’t resist investigating. With the help of drone photography, local resources, and online research, I embarked on a mission to uncover the truth behind this suspected sunken vessel. In this blog post, I’ll take you through my findings and share the captivating footage captured by my drone.
Before launching my drone, I delved into research to narrow down the search area. By posting questions on local Facebook groups and examining Google Earth images, I identified an area where something seemed to be visible in the water. Excited by this finding, I decided to deploy my drone and capture close-up footage of the site.
During this search, I encountered some challenges almost immediately. Heavy interference during the flight caused my drone to lose connection multiple times, making it difficult to reach the area I wanted to explore. Fortunately, I managed to capture some great footage before needing to turn the drone around and return to the launch site.
To confirm my suspicions, I shared the captured photos with the Wareham Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). They kindly provided valuable information about the only known sunken vessel in the town. According to the WDNR, a barge was rumored to have sunk off Long Beach in the early 1950s, but they later discovered that it was actually in another town with the same land identification name. However, they did confirm the sinking of a small fishing boat off Long Beach around the same time. The wreckage is identified on the Raster Charts as a wreck between Long Beach and Great Hill in Marion.
The WDNR has since scanned the area and, although they didn’t find many abnormalities, they believe some debris may still be present. As the water warms up, I plan to dive down to the ship and continue my search. Stay tuned for a follow-up post with more information on the area and an exciting dive video!
Gear List: (these are amazon affiliate links)
Filming Gear
GoPro HERO9 Black https://amzn.to/43oquA7
DJI Mini SE Drone https://amzn.to/3o4IC1X
Rode VideoMic GO Lightweight Mic https://amzn.to/3MtPoZb
Phone/Gopro Tripod https://amzn.to/3MyHJJd
Gooseneck GoPro Clamp https://amzn.to/3GAhpdE
GoPro Bike / Trekking Pole mount https://amzn.to/3mp5mcu
GoPro Dive Case https://amzn.to/41jiK0t
Awesome!