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S E P T E M B E R   19th to 22nd
1 9 9 8

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Tufan's weather report
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day15f01s.jpg (13279 bytes) The most remarkable news of  these three days is the rain.  The first rain of the summer, well... the fall.

For the last three days we had been searching  around Kokar Limani. Sponge divers and fishermen of  Sigacik have been reporting shipwrecks on the eastern  part of the harbor entry.  We conducted a few sled runs with no results but it seems that we were looking in the wrong place.  Today  a fishermen's boat came into Kokar and we got information about the wreck directly from him.  The captain seemed to know the wreck we were looking for. He came with us in the dinghy and  showed us the site where he was getting his net caught often, most likely due to amphoras and broken pottery below. The plan now is to take Virazon there because the search may be a long one.
kokarwreck.jpg (19597 bytes) We have located two wrecks inside the harbor of   Kokar Liman during the same dive, one wreck 60 meters north of the other.  Both wrecks are shallow so their hulls disintegrated long ago and the remains of their cargoes, mostly broken amphora sherds, are concreted to the rocky bottom. Berta and Tufan dove on them and did extensive recording and imaging. Each site is also recorded with our GPS unit on the dinghy.   No intact artifacts are visible on either wreck.
day20thshore.JPG (23436 bytes) We also dove again on the classical wreck; Tufan and Yasar went to shore with a tape measure and checked the hillside for a possible camp location for the planned excavation in 1999.  The steep cliff side had been surveyed before, but this is the first thorough inspection. Now we know how far the rocks are from the water, how wide the platforms can be, and  other critical details.  After the dive, the sea was extremely calm, the surface was mirror-like, and the captain decided to take  Virazon through the narrow passage between Tektas Island and the mainland. Even though there was a fierce debate among the members of the team whether if we could pass through, trustworthy Virazon glided through the strait with effortless ease. It was exciting.
Tomorrow  we will be heading to Sigacik to to say goodbye to two of our members, Jevon and Uluc.  Uluc is returning to school in Izmir and Jevon is heading to Rome for the next 2 months.  It is sad to see them leave; their inspiration and joyful presence will be missed.

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