Can you scuba dive at Pearl Harbor?

Many people ask the big question: Can you scuba dive in Pearl Harbor? The answer is simple—probably not. But a few professionals dive this World War II memorial to help protect and preserve its history.

Why are divers not allowed in the USS Arizona?

Because the Arizona is considered to be a memorial, it is unlawful for divers to enter the ship, so careful egresses are made using underwater rovers that document interior conditions. Members of PVA dive the waters of the USS Arizona along with the National Park Service. (File photo 2018 National Park Service).

How many bodies are still underwater at Pearl Harbor?

Of the 1,177 USS Arizona sailors and Marines killed at Pearl Harbor, more than 900 could not be recovered and remain entombed on the ship, which sank in nine minutes. A memorial built in 1962 sits above the wreckage.

How deep is the water at Pearl Harbor?

The average depth of the harbor is only 45 feet deep or just over 13 meters. When dropped, a torpedo will drop to a depth of 100 feet before rising so the make an attack successful, they had to add wooden fins to the torpedos and practice for almost a year to learn how to launch attacks on the ships in the harbor.

Can you see the USS Arizona underwater?

With the use of an underwater ROV, we are able to see the inside of the U.S.S. Arizona which sits on the bottom of Pearl Harbor.

PEARL HARBOR - INTO THE ARIZONA | Sunken Relics Revealed | PBS

Are there skeletons in the USS Arizona?

The majority of those have never been recovered from the wreckage. According to DPAA, their remains are entombed in the USS Arizona Memorial. As of December 1, 2021, DPAA reports more than 81,600 Americans remain missing from WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and the Gulf Wars or other conflicts.

Is there a flag underwater at Pearl Harbor?

False. According to a spokesperson for the National Park Service, the underwater flag photo was not taken at the Pearl Harbor site. Instead, it depicts a flag once displayed at the USNS Vandenberg located in the waters of the Florida Keys.

Has anyone been inside the USS Arizona?

As an underwater archaeologist for the National Park Service, Dave Conlin is one of few people in the world who has dived the USS Arizona. Scuba diving the ship is part of his work to preserve and protect the remains of the USS Arizona and its crew. Here, he is photographed on the ship's starboard gunwhale.

How many Pearl Harbour survivors are still alive?

As we prepare to enter 2022, the total number of Pearl Harbor survivors is estimated to be less than 1,500 — the youngest of whom would be 97.

Are there bodies on the USS Utah?

In all, 30 officers and 431 men survived the sinking of the Utah. But six officers and 52 sailors perished, either trapped inside the ship or as they tried to swim ashore. Only four of their bodies were ever recovered and identified.

Were there any Japanese remains found at Pearl Harbor?

Oklahoma when it sank during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Using DNA taken from a nephew, the Pentagon was finally able to identify the remains of the 25-year-old sailor in 2020.

Are there any USS Arizona survivors still alive?

Ken Potts, serving in the Navy in 1941 (left) and 80 years later (right) is one of two living survivors of the USS Arizona. Eighty years later he can still hear the sirens wailing from Battleship Row.

Are there still bodies on the Titanic?

No one has found human remains, according to the company that owns the salvage rights. But the company's plan to retrieve the ship's iconic radio equipment has sparked a debate: Could the world's most famous shipwreck still hold remains of passengers and crew who died a century ago?

How deep is the water by the USS Arizona?

“Today, Arizona rests where she fell, submerged in about 40 feet of water just off the coast of Ford Island,” the National Park Service says.

Is Pearl Harbor still an active base?

Today, Pearl Harbor remains an active military base, Headquarters of the Pacific Fleet, and a National Historic Landmark that's home to four unique attractions: from the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor that started it all, to the surrender of the Japanese on the deck of the mighty Battleship Missouri, these four ...

How many bodies are in the USS Arizona?

After the attack, the ship was left resting on the bottom with the deck just awash. In the days and weeks following, efforts were made to recover the bodies of the crew and the ship's records. Eventually, further recovery of bodies became fruitless and the bodies of at least 900 crewmen remained in the ship.

How old is the youngest Pearl Harbor survivor?

Six of the 63 World War II veterans currently visiting Pearl Harbor are survivors of the attack. The youngest veteran in the group is 94 years old.

Does Pearl Harbor still leak oil?

However, despite the raging fire and ravages of time, some 500,000 gallons are still slowly seeping out of the ship's submerged wreckage: Nearly 70 years after its demise, Arizona continues to spill up to 9 quarts of oil into the harbor each day.

Can survivors of Pearl Harbor be buried there?

Pearl Harbor survivors can have their ashes scattered over Pearl Harbor. The memorial service and interment of deceased USS Arizona Survivors is conducted on the USS Arizona Memorial. The service includes a committal service, interment, rifle salute, TAPS, flag presentation, and plaque presentation.

Why were the carriers not at Pearl Harbor?

The Japanese were aware that the American carriers were not at Pearl Harbor. After some debate, they decided the chance to destroy all eight US Pacific Fleet battleships — still seen as the dominant naval weapon at the time — was just too good an opportunity to pass up.

What ships are still underwater at Pearl Harbor?

The target ship USS Utah, and the battleships USS Arizona and Oklahoma, were the only ships the Japanese left beyond repair. The Utah remains on the Pearl Harbor floor along with the Arizona. The Oklahoma was raised after a massive effort but proved to be too damaged to return to service.

How long will the oil leak from USS Arizona?

It's believed between 14,000 and 64,000 gallons of oil have leaked from the USS Arizona since the attack, and the National Park Service estimates it could continue to leak for 500 years.

How many planes got off the ground at Pearl Harbor?

Welch and Taylor were among only five Air Force pilots who managed to get their planes off the ground and engage the Japanese that morning. Total American aircraft losses at Pearl Harbor were estimated at 188 planes destroyed and 159 more damaged, while the Japanese lost just 29 planes.

How many sets of brothers died on the USS Arizona?

Serving aboard were a father and son and 38 sets of brothers. Naturally, they wanted to be together. Their families back home felt the same, but worried about losing all of their boys when disaster struck. These fears became reality as the sinking of the Arizona killed 23 sets of brothers and a father and son.

How deep is the Arizona sunk?

The Arizona sank in about 40 feet (12 metres) of water, though some parts were not submerged, and the ship continued to burn for more than two days. Almost immediately, efforts were undertaken to retrieve bodies, but eventually the decision was made to leave more than 900 entombed in the ship's wreckage.