Kaxaan Nautical Foundation

Tonight’s the night! Don’t miss our episode of 🧭🗺️ Josh Gates joined us in Nicaragua to hunt for Vanderbilt’s lost steamship. It’s an exciting episode you can’t miss!

Tune in at 9pm ET on to witness Kaxaan in action!⚓️🌊

Our Director of Research, Miguel Fernández presented Kaxaan’s work on the H-1 submarine to the Vermont diving community.

Nuestro Director de Investigaciones, Miguel Fernández presentó el buen trabajo de Kaxaan y el submarino H-1 a la comunidad de buceadores en el estado de Vermont.

El 6 de noviembre, Kaxaan colocó una placa conmemorativa en el sitio del submarino hundido USS H-1 Seawolf en la costa de Isla Margarita en Baja California Sur, México, para establecer un Museo Vivo en el Mar y conmemorar las vidas perdidas durante su servicio al concluir la Primera Guerra Mundial en 1920. La placa hace referencia al USS H-1 “en patrulla eterna” y conmemora a los que perecieron mientras servían a su país.

En colaboración con la Armada de México (SEMAR), el gobierno de los Estados Unidos, el Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) y la Universidad de Indiana, Kaxaan ha trabajado duro para llevar a cabo esta celebración. El submarino H-1 encalló en ruta a su base en California y perecieron cuatro marineros, entre ellos el comandante. Durante los esfuerzos de rescatar la nave, el submarino H-1 hundió a 18 metros de profundidad.

No fue hasta 2015 cuando pescadores locales se toparon sobre el submarino después de enganchar una trampa de langostas sobre la nave hundida. Durante los últimos 100 años, el pecio se ha convertido en un arrecife artificial, ofreciendo refugio a muchas especies de vida acuática. En 2017 INAH registró el sitio del pecio para su preservación y protección y el siguiente año hizo un modelo de fotogrametría 3D que se está usando para monitorear la degradación natural del pecio (ver enlace en bio)

El 6 de noviembre se llevó a cabo una ceremonia en la base naval mexicana de Puerto Cortés, en Isla Margarita, con representación de SEMAR, el agregado naval de los Estados Unidos y miembros de Kaxaan. La placa identifica a la Fundación Náutica Kaxaan, la Universidad de Indiana, PADI Worldwide, la U.S. Sunken Military Craft y la Marina de Estados Unidos como patrocinadores y resalta que el submarino es protegido por INAH en virtud de la convención de la UNESCO de 2001. La placa pide que cualquier visitante “Tome solo fotos y solamente deje burbujas”.

El próximo día, en el lugar del naufragio, Kaxaan organizó una segunda ceremonia con la colocación de una corona en el mar y un minuto de silencio para conmemorar las vidas perdidas.

Fotos: Juan Castro Gessner, Emma Lozano, Salvador Rabell Topete, Luis sanchez-underwater explorer/videographer, Emilio Velez Quintero

On November 6, Kaxaan installed a memorial plaque on the site of the sunken submarine H-1 Seawolf off the coast of Isla Margarita in Baja California Sur, Mexico, to establish a Living Museum of the Sea and commemorate the loss of lives that occurred at the conclusion of WWI in 1920. The plaque makes reference to USS H-1 being “on eternal patrol” and pays tribute to those who gave their lives while serving their country.

In collaboration with the U.S. Government, the Mexican Navy (SEMAR), Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), and Indiana University, Kaxaan has worked for the past four years to bring this event to life. The H-1 submarine grounded on its way home to California and four lives, including the commander’s, were lost. During the attempt to salvage the sub, it sank in 60 feet of water.

It was not until 2015 when local fishermen stumbled on the submarine after snagging a lobster trap on the wreck. The submarine has breathed new life over the past 100 years as an artificial reef providing shelter and food for many species of aquatic life. In 2017, INAH analyzed and registered the wreck site for its preservation and protection and the following year created a 3D photogrammetry model of the submarine to monitor the wreck's natural degradation (link in bio)

A ceremony took place at the Mexican Naval Base at Puerto Cortés on Isla Margarita on 6 November with representatives of SEMAR, the U.S. Navy, and Kaxaan. The plaque identifies Kaxaan Nautical Foundation, Indiana University, PADI Worldwide, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Sunken Military Craft as sponsors and notes that the submarine is protected by INAH by virtue of the UNESCO convention of 2001. The plaque asks visitors to “only take photos and only leave bubbles.”

The following day, at the site of the wreck, Kaxaan organized a ceremony with the laying of a wreath at sea and a moment of silence to commemorate the lives lost of the H-1 seamen.

Photo credits: Juan Castro Gessner, Emma Lozano Photographer, Salvador Rabell Topete, Luis sanchez-underwater explorer/videographer, Emilio Velez Quintero

Jacques-Yves Cousteau: Co-inventor of the Aqua-Lung, a pioneer of modern diving

Jacques-Yves Cousteau: Co-inventor del Aqua Lung, un pionero de la industria del buceo.

Happy Labor Day to those who celebrate!

Diving into the weekend!

Happy 4th of July from Kaxaan!
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David Fatzinger, Pablo Escalante and Juan Castro Gassner represented Kaxaan this past weekend at the American Society event hosted at the American School Foundation.

Keep up the effort

Welcome to Kaxaan! Our logo is inspired by a Mayan inscription glyph. Kaxaan means to explore, to find, and to locate in the Yucatec Maya language. A tribute to our first expedition off the coast of Quintana Roo in 1989. What symbolism do you find in our logo?
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¡Bienvenidos! Somos Kaxaan. Nuestro logo fue inspirado por un glifo maya. Kaxaan es una palabra maya yucateca que significa explorar, buscar o ubicar. Elegimos un nombre con significado histórico y personal, un tributo a nuestro carácter mexicano y la región donde desarrollamos nuestra primera expedición en la costa de Quintana Roo en 1989. ¿Qué símbolos pueden encontrar reflejados en nuestro logo?

Posted by dear friend & colleague Dr Richard Hendren 30 year US Navy Submariner.

The line

I saw a line of sailors
they seemed so far away,
their uniforms were brilliant white
despite the cloudy day.

I couldn't see their faces,
their rates left arm and right
but on and on the column grew,
it really was a sight.

Then I saw another group
quite different from the first,
their beards and shaggy hair cuts,
their uniforms the worst.

Playing acey-deucey and smoking ci******es
and endless games of Poker,
drinking coffee, making bets.

I asked a nearby sailor,
"Who are these wretched lads?"

"Oh them, they're Submariners,
they're all together bad,
they hid beneath the surface,
on submarines of old,
their missions were so secret
they never could be told,
and everyone a scoundrel
with language foul and blue,
they just weren't proper sailors
believe me, it's all true."

And suddenly a rush of wind
blew all the clouds away
The Angels came and passed the line
The gamblers stop they're play.

The other Sailors grumbled
"We've been standing in this line
for what seems to be an eternity
and faithful all this time."

The angel said, "Just wait a bit,
your time will come soon well
but these boys get to go home now,
they've done their time in hell."

Their boat went down so quickly
there wasn't time to pray
but God heard every mother
who lost her son that day.

The Submariners rose as one
and walked into the light,
they all went down together,
as one they all took flight.

So pray for submariners
when you think of those we've lost,
the freedom we enjoy today
came with a heavy cost.

Robert W MacPherson, CWO USN Retired

BIG Congratulations to our Co-Founder, Peter Tattersfield for officially becoming a member of the Explorers Club! 🎉 He joins the company of fellow Kaxaan member Renata Rojas, Dr Sylvia Earle, Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Sir Edmund Hillary.

•2nd Photo: Peter presenting Kaxaan's work at HQ in New York. TEC is an international multidisciplinary professional society with the goal of promoting scientific exploration and field study.
•3rd Photo: Peter was joined by Kaxaan Associate Director, Miguel Fernández, and Kaxaan videographer, Juan Castro Gassner.