Sub Marine Explorer

{{Distinguish|Explorer class submarine|HMS Explorer (submarine)}}

{{Distinguish|Explorer class submarine|HMS Explorer (submarine)}}

{{more citations needed|date=March 2015}}

{{more citations needed|date=March 2015}}

{{Infobox ship

{{Infobox ship

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After construction, the ''Sub Marine Explorer'' was partially disassembled and transported to [[Panama]] in December 1866, where she was reassembled to harvest [[oysters]] and [[pearls]] in the [[Pearl Islands]]. Experimental dives with the ''Sub Marine Explorer'' in the Bay of Panama ended in September 1867 when Kroehl died of "fever". The craft languished on the beach until 1869, when a new engineer and crew took it to the Pearl Islands to harvest oyster shells and pearls. The 1869 dives, with known depths and dive profiles that would have inevitably led to decompression sickness, resulted in the entire crew succumbing to what was described as "fever". Because of this, the craft was laid up in a cove on the shores of the island of [[Isla San Telmo|San Telmo]] in the [[Pearl Islands]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}

After construction, the ''Sub Marine Explorer'' was partially disassembled and transported to [[Panama]] in December 1866, where she was reassembled to harvest [[oysters]] and [[pearls]] in the [[Pearl Islands]]. Experimental dives with the ''Sub Marine Explorer'' in the Bay of Panama ended in September 1867 when Kroehl died of "fever". The craft languished on the beach until 1869, when a new engineer and crew took it to the Pearl Islands to harvest oyster shells and pearls. The 1869 dives, with known depths and dive profiles that would have inevitably led to decompression sickness, resulted in the entire crew succumbing to what was described as "fever". Because of this, the craft was laid up in a cove on the shores of the island of [[Isla San Telmo|San Telmo]] in the [[Pearl Islands]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}

The submarine's rusting hull was well-known to locals, but they had presumed it to be a remnant of [[World War II]]. In 2001, after many years of misidentification, the remains of the ''Sub Marine Explorer'' piqued the interest of archaeologist [[James P. Delgado]] of the [[Institute of Nautical Archaeology]]. Identification of the craft, with the assistance of submarine historians Richard Wills and Eugene Canfield, led to four archaeological expeditions to the Explorer in 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008. Documentation of the ''Sub Marine Explorer'' has resulted in detailed plans, including interpretive reconstructions of the craft, scientific study of its environment and interaction with the surrounding water, bathymetric assessment, scientific analysis of rates of corrosion, and considerable historical research. Work in 2006 was funded by the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] through the [[Office of Ocean Exploration]]. The 2008 expedition was funded by the [[Waitt Institute for Discovery]] of La Jolla. The vessel is now included in the [[Historic American Engineering Record]] of the U.S. [[National Park Service]]. A report from 2007 summarizes preservation options for the submarine for the Panamanian government and recommends the recovery, preservation and public display of the craft in Panama. Metal analysis confirms that the craft is in a critical stage and faces irreversible deterioration and loss.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}

The submarine's rusting hull was well known to locals, but they had presumed it to be a remnant of [[World War II]]. In 2001, after many years of misidentification, the remains of the ''Sub Marine Explorer'' piqued the interest of archaeologist [[James P. Delgado]] of the [[Institute of Nautical Archaeology]]. Identification of the craft, with the assistance of submarine historians Richard Wills and Eugene Canfield, led to four archaeological expeditions to the Explorer in 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008. Documentation of the ''Sub Marine Explorer'' has resulted in detailed plans, including interpretive reconstructions of the craft, scientific study of its environment and interaction with the surrounding water, bathymetric assessment, scientific analysis of rates of corrosion, and considerable historical research. Work in 2006 was funded by the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] through the [[Office of Ocean Exploration]]. The 2008 expedition was funded by the [[Waitt Institute for Discovery]] of La Jolla. The vessel is now included in the [[Historic American Engineering Record]] of the U.S. [[National Park Service]]. A report from 2007 summarizes preservation options for the submarine for the Panamanian government and recommends the recovery, preservation and public display of the craft in Panama. Metal analysis confirms that the craft is in a critical stage and faces irreversible deterioration and loss.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}

The ''Sub Marine Explorer'' is the subject of two documentary films; the first was an episode of the "Sea Hunters" that aired on National Geographic International Television in 2004, and the second, by Der Spiegel, which aired in Europe and in the US on the Smithsonian channel in 2010.

The ''Sub Marine Explorer'' is the subject of two documentary films; the first was an episode of the "Sea Hunters" that aired on National Geographic International Television in 2004, and the second, by Der Spiegel, which aired in Europe and in the US on the Smithsonian channel in 2010.