Deep-water shipwreck diving is growing in popularity, but reaching some of the most elusive wrecks takes much more than simply a mask and flippers, writes Siobhan Reid for Rob Report. 

Scuba diver Chris Donnelly, who operates the Frazer-based Blue Crew Divers center, made extensive preparation for his first trip to the SS Andrea Doria, the so-called “Mount Everest of Shipwrecks,” located at a depth of 250 feet off the coast of Massachusetts.

While there were some hiccups along the way, he was successful in approaching the ghostly wreck. 

“I’ll never forget her emerging out of the darkness,” he said. “It’s a moment that will be burned in my memory forever.” 

Getting to that point required hundreds of hours of technical, specialty training, along with “build-up” dives. 

Simply paying to get on the Andrea Doria expedition does not work. Donnelly will lead an invite-only expedition to the wreck next summer, with divers he has been training this year. 

“I don’t care if you have all the money and the resources in the world – if I haven’t trained you personally, or if you haven’t trained with someone I know, it’s not happening,” he said. 

Read more about Blue Crew Divers prioritizing safety over everything else in Rob Report. 

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