Did Clive Cussler really discover the Hunley?

[Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker]

This is not a question about Lee Spence’s claims to have discovered it first.

This could just be a definition of semantics, but from what (little) I understand of the discovery:

a) Clive Cussler was one of several people/groups financing the expedition, and
b) Cussler was not aboard the ship when it was found.

Those points being the case (and I don’t know for a fact that they are), is it really accurate to say that he discovered it?

Ballard was most definitely on-hand when he discovered the Titanic, Bismarck, et. al. Can Cussler make that same claim?

[Boyo_Jim]

If his participation was limited to money, even if he financed the search 100%, then no, he can’t claim to have discovered it, IMHO.

[Reeder]

Actually…Lee Spence discovered the Hunley.

In 1970.

[Duck_Duck_Goose]

Interesting call–“who should get credit?” The Navy sez Clive “and his team” do.

http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/org12-3.htm

The search for Hunley ended 131 years later when best-selling author Clive Cussler and his team from the National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA) discovered the submarine after a 14-year search. At the time of discovery, Cussler and NUMA were conducting this research in partnership with the South Carolina Institute of Anthropology and Archaeology (SCIAA).

NUMA says that the Navy says that it was Clive, although they do mention “the divers”.
http://www.numa.net/hunley/historic.htm

United States Navy Website credits Clive Cussler with locating the H. L. Hunley

< snip >

Novelist and adventurer Clive Cussler and divers from his non-profit National Underwater and Marine Agency found Hunley in 1995.

However, it’s worthwhile to point out that NUMA belongs to Clive Cussler.
http://www.numa.net/CliveCussler/index.htm

Cussler is an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater & Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization that dedicates itself to American maritime and naval history.

Clive himself says that it was him “and his NUMA crew”. And yes, evidently he was there when the sub was raised.
http://www.numa.net/press/hunley/aug1300.htm

THE CSS HUNLEY RETURNS HOME

Author/adventurer Clive Cussler and his NUMA Crew who found the Hunley, May 3, 1995, watched proudly as a team of archaeologists lifted the Civil War submarine August 8, 2000 four miles off the coast of Charleston, SC.

…Cussler invested more than $130,000 to locate the historic vessel.

“I did not think this would happen in my lifetime,” Cussler remarked to a group of journalists covering the historic event.

After watching the Hunley safely placed on the barge that would transport her to the Warren Lasch Conservation Center, Cussler told the reporters, “Well, I have to be going now.” With that, the 69-year-old best-selling author jumped off the Carolina Clipper Press Boat and did the backstroke to the Diversity, Wilbanks boat that was used when the Hunley was discovered.

CNN says that Clive’s “crew” discovered it, and confirms that he was there when it was raised (although they seem not to have noticed the backstroke).
http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/08/08/hunley.01/index.html

The recovery was the culmination of years of effort by millionaire novelist Clive Cussler, whose crew discovered the sub in 1995.

“I’m numb,” Cussler said upon seeing the submarine. “It’s a great feeling.”

But here’s who actually swam around down there in the murk and found the thing.

http://www.diveweb.com/commdive/features/novdec2000.01.htm

In the case of the Hunley, the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology (SCIAA) first granted Cussler a permit to search for the vessel in 1980. A second mission in 1981 uncovered 19 magnetic anomalies, seven of which showed promise of being the lost submarine. The others were discounted because they were considered too small. However, none had been identified by the end of the season, and it wasn’t until 1994 that another search attempt was made.

SCIAA joined in NUMA’s 1994 attempt, providing underwater archaeologists to dive and identify the anomalies after NUMA located them once again. Beginning in the fall of 1994 and continuing into the spring of 1995, archaeologists Ralph Wilbanks and Wes Hall fought low visibility, strong currents, and loose sand to check the targets. Not until they decided to go back to the previously discounted 1981 discoveries did they locate the Hunley - at the strongest of the “unlikely” sites, and therefore the first one they investigated. On May 3, 1995, Wilbanks, Hall and Harry Pecorelli identified the Hunley, buried under three feet of sand. She lay on her starboard side at about a 45-degree angle.

http://www.cla.sc.edu/sciaa/nov17.html

HUNLEY UPDATE

11/17/95

< snip >

Dr. William Dudley, Director of the Naval Historical Center, has reported to the HPWG that Mr. Clive Cussler has released the vessel’s coordinates to the Navy. Mr. Cussler’s action will most likely reduce the budgeted expenses for the initial phase of the project.

So, you tell me–who “discovered” it?

[Reeder]

Lee Spence’s side of the story…it is very compelling.

http://www.hunleyarchives.org/

[Duck_Duck_Goose]

From the OP, Reeder:

**This is not a question about Lee Spence’s claims to have discovered it first. **

[Reeder]

oops…

Uhhh…

well…

My browser dropped that part! That’s the ticket!