Salvage diver and explorer Richard Simon will describe his groundbreaking discovery of Simon Lake’s submarine Defender in Long Island Sound at a meeting sponsored by the Atlantic Highlands Historical Society Wednesday, September 18 at 7:30 p.m.
The talk, The Wreck of the Defender, will take place at the historic Strauss Mansion, 27 Prospect Circle, and is a free event open to all. No registration or Society membership is necessary to attend the event, which will also be live streamed.
The program is co-marketed by the Navesink Maritime Heritage Association, a 501 (c3) non-profit organization dedicated to engaging Eastern Monmouth County with maritime and water related historical, skill building, environmental and recreational activities. The Association also encourages responsible use of the Navesink estuary through its Discover, Engage and Sustain approach.
Simon will discuss the historical significance of Simon Lake and his contributions to submarine technology and the challenges faced in locating the Defender after decades underwater.
The diver’s discovery of the Defender, a pioneering submarine designed by early 20th-century inventor Simon Lake, marks a significant milestone in maritime archaeology. The vessel, which had been lost since 1946, was found through sonar technology and technical scuba diving.
The “Explorer,” built in 1907, was Simon Lake’s most advanced submarine at the time, featuring several revolutionary designs including wheels for traveling along the ocean floor. Despite its innovative features, the submarine was eventually abandoned due to financial difficulties, and its exact location remained a mystery until Simon’s recent discovery.
Simon Lake, considered by some to be the father of the submarine, had tested the Argonaut, Jr. in Atlantic Highlands, an earlier vessel he tested in 1895. Lake was a native of Pleasantville, NJ.
Richard Simon, the diver, grew up diving and crewing on New England dive boats. He is a Boston Sea Rover and Frank Scalli Intern (2005) and a TDI dive instructor holding both recreational and technical ratings.
The speaker is also president of Manta Industries- a dive equipment manufacturing company; and the vice president of Shoreline Diving Services, Inc.- a commercial diving company specializing in inspection, salvage and construction.
For livestreaming information, visit the Historical Society’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ahhsinfo.
