Sonar Target

[Tom Swearengen]

Interesting question Richie----How ya doing anyway? Been a while!
I was just wondering (out loud) how you prove the anomaly is part of the Electra. I assume that there are pics of it--somewhere. Either from the 2012 trip---which I doubt, or the 2010 trip---which seemed to have more parts and pieces in it. Also assume that it would be best to put eyes on target, but that may be a daunting task.

[richie conroy]

Hi Tom

It has been a while, am not aware of any software you could use which can give u a better idea of what were seeing in sonar image obviously we know were 2012 debris field is, I think more needs to be done to a certain were exactly the 2010 wire/rope video was filmed allot of people including Ric and Jeff don't see anything I do an I bet the video was taking some were along that gouge that leads to anomaly,

The be all an end all though is untill we go back we don't know what it is for certain.

Just hope we don't have to wait till 2014 to find out i could get struck by lightning or knocked over by a plane before then haha

[richie conroy]

I think a under water metal detector is a must on next expedition as what ever anomaly is it will be covered in cement like sediment and hard to see.

Anyway best I do some work

Richie 

[Ingo Prangenberg]

Has anyone noticed the nice-sized chunk to the left of the anomaly that has its own sonar shadow? Is it possibly a cylindrical shape? Looks nice and close in relationship to the larger anomaly.

[Greg Daspit]

Has anyone noticed the nice-sized chunk to the left of the anomaly that has its own sonar shadow? Is it possibly a cylindrical shape? Looks nice and close in relationship to the larger anomaly.

A few people have seen it. See replies 7,23 and the pdf in post 100. It's an interesting target that seems to have a narrow vertical shadow. And it is very close to the path of Dive 12. 

[Ric Gillespie]

And it is very close to the path of Dive 12.

Yes but, unfortunately, we have no video for the portion of Dive 12 that comes closest to the anomaly.  No Standard Def.  No HD.  Drives me nuts.
The Standard Def was being recorded on DVD in the command van, but the DVD filled up and didn't get changed - so no recorded Standard Def video for that part of the dive.  The HD camera had a 6 hour recording limit that ran out a few minutes before that part of the dive.  That last part of Dive 12 is the only period for which we have neither Standard Def nor HD video. 
The theme song for Niku VII should be Ray Charles' "If It Wasn't For Bad Luck" [...I'd have no luck at all]

[richie conroy]

Hi Ric

Does bad luck follow u round haha, between the problems with the fish an rov, Then that happens with recording.

Amelia definitely don't want to be found for sure

[Ric Gillespie]

Amelia definitely don't want to be found for sure

I don't think it's Amelia.  It's the island's traditional guardian spirit Nei Manganibuka (translation: Ms. Old Lady of the Buka Trees).  She and I have never gotten along.

[Patrick Dickson]

I don't think it's Amelia.  It's the island's traditional guardian spirit Nei Manganibuka (translation: Ms. Old Lady of the Buka Trees).  She and I have never gotten along.

maybe a quick chat with a "local" on how to appease Ms. Old Lady, and a quick ceremony before getting down to business on the next Niku visit is in order   :D

[Ric Gillespie]

maybe a quick chat with a "local" on how to appease Ms. Old Lady, and a quick ceremony before getting down to business on the next Niku visit is in order   :D

Been there. Done that.  Tradition holds that whenever you go ashore on one of these islands, the first thing you do is put some island sand on your cheeks.  That breeze you feel is the island's guardian spirit sniffing you.  "Ahhh, this is a person of my island.  I will not molest him." 
We always do it, but it doesn't always work.

[Charlie Chisholm]

Has anyone noticed the nice-sized chunk to the left of the anomaly that has its own sonar shadow? Is it possibly a cylindrical shape? Looks nice and close in relationship to the larger anomaly.

Looks about the right size to be an Electra engine...

[Chris Johnson]

maybe a quick chat with a "local" on how to appease Ms. Old Lady, and a quick ceremony before getting down to business on the next Niku visit is in order   :D

Been there. Done that.  Tradition holds that whenever you go ashore on one of these islands, the first thing you do is put some island sand on your cheeks.  That breeze you feel is the island's guardian spirit sniffing you.  "Ahhh, this is a person of my island.  I will not molest him." 
We always do it, but it doesn't always work.

Maybe its your cologne Ric  :P

[Ric Gillespie]

Maybe its your cologne Ric  :P

What cologne?  Oooh...maybe that's the problem.

[Chris Johnson]

On a serious note, have you considered that the 'island spirits' may be objecting to the plan to remove the plane if found as it is now a part of the island?

Yes we live in a modern world but sometimes the old world prevails.  May be worth considering before the next expedition.

[Ric Gillespie]

On a serious note, have you considered that the 'island spirits' may be objecting to the plan to remove the plane if found as it is now a part of the island?

Yes we live in a modern world but sometimes the old world prevails.  May be worth considering before the next expedition.

When we have our tongue in our cheek we try to remember not to bite down.