Ships vanish, divers disappear, and the ocean keeps its secrets
The ocean holds many secrets, and among them are tales of mysterious disappearances that continue to baffle and intrigue. From vanished ships to missing divers, these stories remind us of the sea’s unpredictable nature. Here are 11 ocean disappearances that still haunt divers and sailors:
1. The Tragic Sinking of the SS Heimara
In 1947, the Greek passenger ship Heimara, also known as ‘The Greek Titanic’ sank after hitting an islet in the South Euboean Gulf, resulting in the deaths of approximately 400 people, and making history as the Greek deadliest boat disaster. Recent explorations have uncovered personal artifacts of the deceased onboarders including shoes and a nearly 80-year-old readable newspaper. Thanks to the reinvestigation of a researcher named Kostas, the cause of this tragic incident has been revealed. However, there are still unanswered lingering questions. Source: thesun.co.uk
2. The Disappearance of Tom and Eileen Lonergan
In 1998, experienced divers Tom and Eileen Lonergan were accidentally left behind during a dive trip on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Their absence wasn’t noticed until two days later. Despite extensive searches, they were never found. Their story inspired the film “Open Water” and led to changes in diving safety protocols. Source: thesun.co.uk
3. The Vanishing of the MV Joyita
In 1955, the MV Joyita, a 69-foot (21.0 m) wooden ship built in 1931 as a luxury yacht by the Wilmington Boat Works, was found adrift in the South Pacific with all 25 passengers and crew missing. The ship was in poor condition with corroded pipes and a radio which was only functional at a range of only about 2 miles (3.2 km) because of faulty wiring. But the ship remained afloat, leading investigators to question why it was abandoned. The fate of those aboard remains unknown and investigators wondered why no one called for help if there was a crisis. Source: en.wikipedia.org
4. The Disappearance of the ARA San Juan
On 15th of November 2017, the Argentine submarine ARA San Juan vanished in the South Atlantic off the coast of Argentina with 44 crew members aboard, while on a training exercise. And a 15-days rescue mission was futile in finding at least one survivor A year later on November 16th, 2018, its wreckage was found in the South Atlantic by a private company named Ocean Infinity at a depth of 907 metres (2,976 ft). The exact cause of the disaster is still unknown and under investigation. Source: en.wikipedia.org
5. The Lost Submarine INS Dakar
The diesel-electric Israeli Navy submarine INS Dakar (a modified world war 2 British T-class Submarine) disappeared in 1968 during a voyage with 69 man-crew from the UK to Israel. After extensive searches, its wreckage was found in 1999 between Cyprus and Crete, at a depth of approximately 3,000 m (9,800 ft). The cause of its sinking remains a mystery till date. Source: en.wikipedia.org
6. The Mary Celeste: A Ship Found Adrift
In1872, the Mary Celeste, an American brigantine, was found abandoned and adrift in the Atlantic Ocean. The ship was seaworthy and its cargo was intact, but the crew, including the captain, his family, and the rest of the crew, were missing without a trace. The discovery of the Mary Celeste sparked numerous theories about the crew’s disappearance, but the true cause remains unknown.
7. The Mystery of the Kaz II
In April 2007, the 9.8-meter catamaran Kaz II was discovered adrift off the northeastern coast of Australia, eerily intact yet devoid of its three-man crew. The vessel’s engine was running, a laptop was open on the table, and meals were set out, suggesting a sudden and unexplained departure. Despite extensive searches, no trace of the crew was ever found. The mystery of the Kaz II has drawn comparisons to the infamous Mary Celeste, earning it the moniker “Australia’s ghost yacht”
8. The Vanishing of the Sea Bird Crew
The SV Sea Bird, a merchant brig, mysteriously vanished, specifically around 1750, after grounding itself at Easton’s Beach, Rhode Island. The crew of eight had apparently abandoned ship in sight of land, leaving behind a dog and cat, with coffee still boiling on the galley stove and no signs of foul play. The ship was later refloated and sold to a merchant named Henry Collins, who renamed it the “Beach Bird” and used it for many voyages. Despite numerous accounts of the incident, details remain disputed, including the exact date and captain’s name, which has been variously reported as John Huxham, John Husham, or John Durham, but the true fate of the crew remains unknown.
9. The Disappearance of the SS Waratah
The SS Waratah was a passenger and cargo steamship built in 1908 for the Blue Anchor Line, operating between Europe and Australia. On its second voyage, traveling from Durban to Cape Town, it disappeared In July 1909, carrying 211 people, simply vanishing off the coast of South Africa without a trace, sparking numerous theories about its disappearance. The ship was last seen by another vessel on July 27th, and despite extensive searches, neither the ship nor any wreckage or survivors were ever found.
10. The Mystery of the USS Cyclops
In 1918, the USS Cyclops, a large U.S. Navy cargo ship, disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle, taking 309 crew members with it. The ship vanished without a trace, and no wreckage was ever found, making it one of the largest losses of life in U.S. Naval history outside of combat. Britannica says that the ship was en route to Baltimore from Brazil when it disappeared, and LinkedIn states that it was a 19,000-ton cargo ship. The disappearance remains a mystery, and there’s no definitive explanation for what happened to the ship and its crew.
11. The Vanishing of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald
In 1975, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior during a severe storm, tragically losing all 29 crew members. The exact cause of the sinking remains a subject of debate among experts, with several theories proposed, including cargo hold flooding due to improperly sealed hatches and structural failure.
No matter how careful you are, remember that the Ocean will remain unpredictable. Have you heard of other maritime mysteries? Share your thoughts and stories in the comments.
