Sub Marine Explorer, 19th century submarine near San Jose Island, Panama
The Sub Marine Explorer is a submarine vessel from the 19th century located near San Jose Island, Panama, measuring about 39 feet in length. It features a pressurized working chamber connected to water ballast tanks and air compartments that allowed it to operate underwater.
The vessel was constructed between 1863 and 1866 in Brooklyn, New York, by Julius H. Kroehl and Ariel Patterson for the Pacific Pearl Company. It represented an early example of submersible technology developed for commercial pearl harvesting operations.
The vessel remained misidentified by local residents as a World War II submarine until archaeologist James P. Delgado uncovered its true identity in 2001.
The wreck rests in relatively shallow waters and remains accessible to divers under suitable conditions. Visitors planning to see it should check local conditions and access options before traveling to the area.
The vessel conducted pearl harvesting at depths of about 103 feet, with crews enduring four-hour dives under dangerous decompression conditions. Archaeologist James P. Delgado uncovered its true identity in 2001 after local residents had long misidentified it.
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