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We had heard about the “deep anchor” and asked the local family (only 9 people live on Mopelia) where it was. Calami (patriach of the family) knew all about the wreck and had photographic reproductions taken by the crew when the vessel was aground. These were given to him by a visiting German cruising yacht a few years ago. He drew us a map and told us it was off the end of the entry pass in 18 to perhaps 20 meters of water. We looked at that depth (60-65 feet) for several dives with no luck. Then, Jerome and I were at 100 feet and saw the flukes rising out of the sand in the middle of the pass almost 50 feet below us. It was our second dive, so we didn’t go to it. The next day, Cindy and I did only the one dive to 45.1 meters (148 feet) and took these photos of the fateful anchor whose chain broke causing the loss of “Seeadler” in 1917.
Mopelia Atoll, Society Islands – French Polynesia
June 10, 2010