Wrecks Dreams SARDINIA 2005
Xpedition Team

Villasimius 23 september - 1st october 2005

Hello,

This is the new meeting for the Xpedition Team to Villasimius in Sadinia,
beautiful country where we had already done several explorations.

Instead of the spectacular explorations some of you already knew, I hope to
reach a new goal, never done even if we were near to. I cross my fingers!

Moreover, I would like to establish without any doubt, the real name of the
Marte (as we did for the Bengasi). This will be another goal when we dive on
this wreck.

Of course, as always, we will take pictures and make a video of the
expedition, which will be more than documentaries: souvenirs!

We will dive between 40 to 110 m, with a program which will vary depending
on each diver's level, and of course, weather conditions.

We will show the video "Xpedition. Adventure in the history" made by Lorenzo
Mittiga with the images of Roberto Rinaldi. This documentary speaks about
five years of Xpeditions, with sensational images, often shot at big depth.
The film begins in June 2000, with one of the most known wreck: the Andrea
Doria, and continues with the cargo boat Viminale in the straits of Messine,
the submarine Pietro Micca, the seaplane Dornier 24 and the marvellous cargo
Bengasi, with its holds full of glasses.

The expected wrecks:

MARTE: the wreck we have to establised the name. She was sunk the 29th
December 1942 by the English submarine Turbulent as she was crossing from
Caliari to Olbia. The explosion of the torpedo must have

been very strong to have cut the ship in half, and sunk to 65m. From the
surface, these two halves situated parallels to each other, give the
impression of two separate wrecks. There is enough space to enter the ship,
although visiting the outside is very interesting, especially the strange
canons situated at the bow and the lorries with trailers in the hold.

Minimum depth: 48m

Maximum depth: 65m

Dive foreseen on Trimix 18/35 with adequate decompression mixes.

ROMAGNA: located in the golf of Cagliari, she lays at 43m on a sandy sea
bed. She was an oil tanker heading towards Sardinia. In august 1943 she
struck a mine and sank rapidly. The vessel got cut in half, with her bow

laying a mile away. The wreck is perfectly conserved and it is possible to
enter the engine room and the holds. One of the main interests, especially
for those who enjoy marine biology, is the presence on the sea bed of
thousands of brown Ofiures (Ophiotrix fragilis) which can also been seen on
the hull.

Minimum depth: 34m

Maximum depth: 43m

Dive foreseen on Nitrox 28 or hyperoxique trimix 25/25 with the adequate
decompression mixes.

LOREDAN: it is surely the most beautiful wreck of the golf of Villasimius
and one of the most beautiful in the Med. A torpedo from the Safari
submarine hit the bow of the Loredan, which sunk immediately at a 65m depth.
She is not very big, but there is a large concentration of red and yellow
gorgonians (Paramuricea clavata) some of which are one meter high. There is
the possibility of entering through a hole caused by the explosion of the
stern, where the new inhabitants are bright red prawns (Plesionika narval),
which cover the side walls. Because of the depth, this dive is often made
with Trimix.

Minimum depth: 50m

Maximum depth: 65m

Dive foreseen on Trimix 18/35 with adequate decompression mixes.

BENGASI : a wreck with over 100 dives by our team, but which is always
fascinating. Situated at around 95m, she is known as 'the glasses wreck',
due to the enormous amount of glass objects found in the hold. Characterised
by exceptional visibility, the wreck is completely covered in oysters and
gorgons, certainly due to its great depth, only accessible to few divers.
Thus, as the Bengasi comes into view, you have the impression of entering a
world where time stopped the moment she sunk.

Minimum depth: 85m

Maximum depth: 96m

Dive foreseen on Trimix 12/55 with adequate decompression mixes.

SAN MARCO: she was sunk off the Island of Serpentara the 1st June 1941 at
8.50am, by the English submarine Clyde, between Civitavecchia and Cagliari.
She fought back for a short while, and then sunk taking all her men with
her. The structure of the vessel could not resist the explosion, especially
as the hold was full of coal, which accelerated the sinking of the ship. The
object of last year's expedition, this vessel is still partly unexplored.
She can be found at around 105m deep, where strong currents impose
competence and technical support of a high level. May be this time we could
visit her completely?

Minimum depth: 92m

Maximum depth: 109m

Dive foreseen on Trimix 11/60 with adequate decompression mixes.

As presented in the introduction, the program can vary due to each person's
ability, to allow those of you who have not yet the experience of very deep
dive, to experience this type of dive. For those who wish, there is the

possibility of visiting other wrecks, as long as this does not put at risk
other members of the team.

For these dives, we will be using the new RIB which belongs to the dive
centre, a BWA 8.40m long. There will be another RIB for assistance, and
Jules will guarantee efficient surface security.

For the accompanying divers, there will be the possibility to dive on wall
or various wrecks from 10m depth. Remember, you must have your deep dive
technical certificate from 40m and the Trimix 1 certificate from 50m.

Requirements for the Bengasi and the San Marco :

Diploma Trimix OC/CC advanced with at least 10 Trimix dives after the
diploma, at minimum depth 80m.

Medical certificate indicating no warning against Trimix diving (less than 6
months old).

Personal insurance, specifying an extension with coverage for mixed gas
diving.

Requirements for the Marte and the Loredan :

Trimix diploma OC/CC normoxique with at least 10 Trimix dives after the
certificate and at minimum depth 50m.

Medical certificate indicating no warning against Trimix diving (less than 6
months old).

Personal insurance, specifying and extension with coverage for mixed gas
diving.

Categories of participants:

Trimix Advance diver open circuit:

Trimix Normoxique diver open circuit:

Trimix diver closed circuit:

Accompanying, diver or not:

Included in the price :

7 days full board, double room, drinks included

A 5-dive package*

The mix needed *, with the bailout for the closed circuit divers

Surface security

Personalised clothing

Inscription cost

(* for the first three categories)

The extra needed (dives, nights.) have to be asked by the incription form.

It is possible to rent material (rebreather Inspiration and Evolution too)
at preferential rates. The demand has to be made in writing.

You can see the hotel 'Fiore di Maggio' and the diving centre on the web
sites www.prodive.it and www.fioredimaggio.com or on the site
www.xpeditionteam.com under Sardinia 2002 Xpedition/Big Week Wreck..

Those interested can apply for inscription by e-mail and send off their
inscription form.

Due to restricted space, send off your completed inscription form signed,
with the deposit, as soon as possible.

I am at your disposal should you require further information.

Waiting you in Sadinia!

Aldo

info@xpeditionteam.com

PS: Here are the next meeting you must not lose sight of:

October/november 2005 Deep Walls of Cavalaire and Dornier 24

From the 26th to the 29th January 2006, week-end in the Lot, in France, for
the speleology lovers: one of the most beautiful Europeen cave.

April 2006 Grand Cayman: exploration of the most beautiful wreks and walls
of the heavenly Caribbean sea.

From the 3rd to the 10th June 2006 Capri - Ischia - Positano: cruse on board
of the whaler Thor, in order to visit two unknown wreks.