Superyachts are superb platforms for a variety of one-of-a-kind experiences. Harle recently provided an experience that goes in the record books. With the assistance of Cookson Adventures, the yacht allowed leading European scientists, marine archaeologists, university staff, and Italian officials to unearth unexpected marine life, as well as historic shipwrecks.
Cookson Adventures specializes in organizing yacht expeditions, with a fleet of regular participants as well as individual yachts. Harle, as you may remember, is part of Fleet Miami and has previously embarked on oceanic and scientific expeditions in North America.
Pictured off Stromboli, Harle was the base for several sub dives in the Gulf of Naples and the Tyrrhenian Sea several weeks ago. The sub permitted diving deeper than researchers had previously gone. Among the surprising discoveries were abundant, centuries-old colonies of soft corals. In addition, the scientists were pleased to find pristine red coral populations. This was particularly important, since jewelers have been depleting these colonies dating back to antiquity.
Yet another incredible find: a rare species of black coral. This same coral is plentiful around the world. However, populations are few and far between in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Therefore, the samples found in Italy will yield new studies. Similarly, Harle helped scientists uncover extraordinary algae growth, in a marine reserve off the island of Santo Stefano, stemming from rising sea temperatures. The scientists will now focus on what else these increasing temperatures are affecting.
These weren’t the only discoveries, though. In fact, Harle helped marine archaeologists discover a Roman shipwreck off the island of Ustica. The ship held a number of amphora (above), which are containers typically used for transporting wine and other liquids. A further shipwreck exploration awaited off Capri. Significantly, no submarine had ever explored this wreck, so the archaeologists gleaned a great deal of information.
Finally, volcanologists from Sicily dove in the sub to the ocean floor off Stromboli. There, they gathered new evidence of new volcanic activity, related to the eruption back in July.
“It took our travel specialists months of negotiation with various authorities to attain the permits to dive at these sites,” says Adam Sebba, Cookson Adventures’ CEO. “The dives in the seas off Italy and Sicily have unearthed many incredible findings.” Sebba adds that Cookson Adventures is considering similar explorations in the Caribbean, as well as elsewhere. “Our experts can take guests on an unprecedented journey of discovery,” he explains. “It’s about turning a yacht cruise into a story that will last a lifetime.”
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