Centrum Nurkowe DARCO
Plac Wolności 6/24, 68-100 Żagań, Poland
Wreck Diving - JU-87 Junkers Croatia
On September 13, 2014 in Croatia near the island of Žirje ( close to our diving base ) the wreck of a German dive bomber from World War II - Junkers JU 87 R-2 (Pike) - was discovered on the seabed. The aircraft is preserved in good condition, lying at a depth of 28 m for more than 70 years!JU 87 R-2 is a single-engine low-wing plane made entirely of metal (duralumin). It had fixed landing gear and the crew consisted of 2 people: a pilot and a rear gunner. Modular construction allowed the aircraft to be transported by truck or rail and to quickly replace parts directly on the battlefield. The original design of the wings 'broken' into the shape of the letter 'W' was Junkers' idea-this specific profile gave high lifting power, allowed takeoff and landing in a very short distance and increased the pilot's field of vision. The second distinctive feature of the JU 87 was the acoustic sirens ('Jericho trumpets') installed in the early period of the war, which were activated when the aircraft entered diving flight. The sound of the sirens caused panic on the ground. In addition, cardboard tubes were mounted to bombs attached to the aircraft, which caused an increasing swish as the plane fell. The aircraft was very modern at the time, but it also had a number of disadvantages. It was poorly armored, not very maneuverable and slow. The JU 87 without a fighter escort became an easy target. The 'Pike' was used until the last days of the war and was withdrawn from service in 1945. According to the available historical data, the most likely version assumes that the wreck lying off the island of Zhirje is one of the three bombers of the Italian squadron that took part in the bombing of the Yugoslavian fleet on April 12, 1941 near Sibenik. Two of them fell at the time: one was shot down, the other landed on the sea surface due to damage. The one found at Zirje, except for the missing engine, is fully complete and in very good condition-even resting on its wheels, as if it had made a smooth landing on the sea floor. The value of the discovery of the JU 87 R2 is of world stature-so far only 2 pieces have been found preserved in good condition-and they are now in museums in Chicago and London. After the 'Flying Fortress' B-17 found off Vis, this is the second military aircraft to be discovered in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea. The Junkers JU 87 R2 has been declared a licensed wreck and made available for recreational diving. The wreck lies at a depth of 28 meters and is available for recreational diving.... In addition, we have a proposal for another wreck Plavi Jadran - The wreck of a transport ship, is located near the island of Prvić. It is a relatively new wreck - it sank in 2018. The reason for the sinking was a collision with the Jadrolinia ferry, which struck the bow of the Plavi Jardan's side, tearing it completely. The wreck lies at a depth of 18 meters less than 100 meters from the island.It is gently overgrown with sponges and mussels, and the open hold preserved the cargo carried - gravel. In the open compartments a lot of various pieces of equipment are preserved.You can not enter them, but looking inside with a flashlight you can observe them. On the wreck, one often encounters sizable scorpionfish and shrews (Serranus scriba), with schools of Barwen (Mullus surmuletus) usually lounging on the bottom. Plavi Jadran is about 30 meters long and 5 meters wide, standing parallel to the island, gently tilted to the port side. The superstructure of the wreck is at 9 meters, and the deck is 12-14 meters below the surface. We dive in and surface at the lowering line to which our boat anchors. A very good place for a first wreck dive, for novice divers and juniors. Many of the world's best dive sites are wrecks. These impressive structures concentrate an unprecedented amount of marine life and allow you to immerse yourself in history while diving. There is no other like wreck diving, and the SSI Wreck Diving specialization will give you all the skills and knowledge you need to become a competent and safe wreck diver. Upon completion of the course, you will receive your SSI Wreck Diving specialization certificate. Continue your adventure and become a wreck diver. Start online today! Tel 500 266 168
- Minimum age 10
- Minimum dives for certification 6
- Maximum Training Depth 30m
- Suggested duration in hours 5-10
- Amount of Academic Sessions 1
Certification Prerequisites
Open Water Diver certification
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