I agree Rob,

However, sometimes it is necessary to be prepared for the visual inspection of such things as shipwrecks, in order to determine the true cause of the loss, etc. In a case I was involved in a few years ago, we acquired blueprints and building plans of a small U.S. Navy warship, and did training dives on a similar vessel of her class, in preparation for inspection of a war-grave off the coast of Maine. We believed the inspection and forensic analysis of the shipwreck could help us determine the cause of her loss, and vindicate the record of forty-nine men who were lost aboard her. In the case of the U.S. Navy subchaser USS Eagle PE-56, we were able to determine (ultimately, through other evidence), that she had been sunk as the result of "enemy action" (torpedo from U-853 on 23 April 1945), and not as the result of a boiler explosion resulting from the negligence of her crew. Fifty-six years after her sinking, her survivors, and the families of those 49 men killed were issued Purple Heart medals. All were very greatful for the willingness of our search and dive team who prepared so long for a dangerous, costly and voluntary mission.

Regards,

Paul