MV Empress Liveaboard diveboat

Kevin Denlay prior to a dive
Mk 15.5 closed circuit rebreather

Kevin Denlay
Diving HMS Exeter

I am one of the divers involved with these discoveries. lucky enough to be on board when MV Empress when these wrecks were found, although I did produce the coordinates that put us in the right area for Kuma this time. (She is a LONG way from the position given by the sub who sank her and from her JANAC position.) Its really Empress with her side scan sonar and her skipper Vidar Skoglie that should take  the credit.

Kuma
Japanese Light Cruiser sunk by HMS Tally-Ho, discovery March 12, 2004

Battle of the Java Sea Discoveries
We have now found all four wrecks that were unaccounted for from the Battle of the Java Sea. The other ship also lost that day, HMS Jupiter, is a previously known wreck site and an Admiralty charted wreck site position; but very broken up, partly salvaged and very close to the Java coast. The position of the other four, HMNS Kortenaer, HNMS De Ruyter, HNMS Java and HMS Electra, were not positively known before December 2002. We then discovered Java and De Ruyter on 1/12/02, Electra on 19/8/03 and now Kortenaer on 12/8/04 (although only positivity ID'd her on 5/11/04)

HNMS Kortenaer
Sunk in the afternoon, February 27, 1942 by torpedo from Harugo, discovery Dec 1, 2002

HNMS De Ruyter
Sunk around midnight on February 27, 1942 by torpedo from Harugo, discovery Dec 1, 2002

HNMS Java
Sunk around midnight on February 27, 1942 by torpedo from Nachi, discovery Dec 1, 2002

HMS Electra
Sunk by gunfire from IJN destroyers in afternoon, February 27, 1942 during the Battle of the Java Sea, discovered August 19, 2003

USS Perch SS-176
 Scuttled March 3, 1942 discovered November 2006

HMS Exeter
Sunk late morning of March 1, 1942 by scuttling, gunfire (and torpedo from Inazuma), discovered February 21, 2007

HMS Encounter
Sunk late morning of March 1, 1942 by gunfire and possibly torpedo, discovery Feb 21, 2007

Contact Us
For more information on  MV Empress’s scheduled charters contact vidar@octa4.net.au or for Kevin’s upcoming special charters contact altdive@ozemail.com.au

AltDive - Technical Diving Services of Australia
Specialising in Technical Diving Products and Expedition Support. PO Box 878, Tweed Heads, NSW, 2485. Australia
Ph/Fax; International 61 7 55907477. Domestic 07 55907477
Mobile; International 61 412 766066. Domestic 0412 766066