Wreck Diving on Guadalcanal

Shipwreck Diving the Warships of Guadalcanal

Exploration Leader Terrence Tysall recounts the expedition to the World War 2 shipwrecks of Guadalcanal. Terrence discusses the history of the battle and the diving technology required to dive shipwreck in the 450fsw depth range. We also discuss the genius of a plan to go back to Guadalcanal......

The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal consisted of a series of sea engagements related to the Japanese effort to reinforce their land forces on Guadalcanal. The Japanese under Admiral Yamamoto Isoruku organized a convoy, embarking 7,000 troops. In conjunction with their troop landings, Japanese naval forces were to bombard US Marines in order to destroy U.S. aircraft that posed a threat to the Japanese ship movements. Ultimately, U.S. naval forces prevented the Japanese bombardment and sank most of the enemy troop transports. The only two U.S. Navy flag officers (Rear Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan, Rear Admiral Norman Scott) to be killed in a World War II surface engagement were lost in this battle. Two U.S. light cruisers, four destroyers, and 35 aircraft were lost; three destroyers were damaged. The Japanese lost two battleships, one heavy cruiser, three destroyers, eleven transports, and 64 aircraft. Japan’s defeat also ended the enemy’s final significant attempt to dislodge the Allied forces in the eastern Solomons.